Video Taken Down: Actress Caught in Fallout from Lee Su-ji’s ‘Daechi Mom’ Parody (+Why)

Comedian Lee Su-ji has found herself at the center of controversy after releasing her latest ‘Daechi Mom’ parody video, which satirizes the lifestyle of elite mothers in Seoul’s Gangnam district. However, as the discussion surrounding the video intensified, actress Han Ga-in unexpectedly became entangled in the backlash.

What Is ‘Daechi Mom’?

The term ‘Daechi Mom’ refers to mothers in Daechi-dong, Gangnam, a district widely known for its highly competitive education culture in South Korea. With a concentration of prestigious private academies, Daechi-dong is home to some of the most education-focused parents, many of whom dedicate significant time and resources to managing their children's academic schedules.

Lee’s parody video captures this intense parental involvement, featuring the comedian dressed in luxury-brand puffer jackets and designer bags, ferrying her child between elite academies, and portraying the stereotypical ‘Daechi Mom’ in a humorous yet exaggerated manner.

Unexpected Fallout: Han Ga-in Caught in the Crossfire

While the parody was initially received as lighthearted satire, unforeseen consequences soon emerged. Following the video’s release, the luxury jacket worn by Lee in the clip flooded online secondhand marketplaces, with users attempting to profit off the viral trend. Additionally, some netizens began using the video as an opportunity to ridicule or criticize Gangnam mothers, escalating the debate.

As discussions surrounding the parody continued, Han Ga-in unexpectedly found herself targeted. A YouTube video from October last year, in which the actress documented her daily routine of driving her children to school and extracurricular activities, resurfaced and became a focal point for online criticism.

Some netizens drew comparisons between Lee’s parody and Han Ga-in’s actual parenting routine, leading to a wave of negative comments on the actress’s video. As criticism intensified, the backlash even extended to comments directed at her children, ultimately prompting Han Ga-in’s team to set the video to private to protect her family’s privacy.

Amid the escalating controversy, Lee Su-ji released a second ‘Daechi Mom’ parody video, fueling further debate. While some argue that her content reinforces negative stereotypes about Gangnam mothers and unfairly targets a specific socioeconomic group, others defend the video as a form of comedic social commentary, asserting that satire should be protected under freedom of expression.

As of now, Lee Su-ji has not issued an official statement addressing the controversy.