BTOB's Lee Chang Sub faces backlash over 'trash debate' despite apology

The so-called 'trash debate' surrounding BTOB's Lee Chang Sub shows no signs of settling down. Although Lee eventually reflected on his words and issued an apology after using harsh language regarding a participant's behavior on a web variety show about dating, the controversy surrounding the broadcast continues to intensify.

The dispute began during the 79th episode of the web variety show 'Open for Business' on the YouTube channel 'Sibicheung' on the 17th. The episode featured a couple in their late 20s who had been dating for three months. The boyfriend always drove to pick up his girlfriend and drop her off at home; while she was grateful, she noted that she also bore a significant portion of their dating expenses.

The conflict centered on trash left inside the car. The boyfriend would hand his used coffee and water bottles to his girlfriend, asking her to throw them away. While she initially let it slide, the tension rose when the behavior repeated and the girlfriend said, "Throw away what you ate yourself." The boyfriend countered that since he was driving for her, they should show mutual consideration.

The cast members were divided in their judgment. Lee empathized with the boyfriend, using harsh expressions such as "Wouldn't she get upset if you told her to take the bus?", "Terrible manners," "Zero consideration," and "It's infuriating." Conversely, Kim Won Hun pointed out that it is natural to dispose of one's own trash, noting that a distinction should be made between trash generated together during a date and trash generated individually.

The debate intensified over the definition of 'consideration.' Specifically, the question was whether the act of driving could be viewed as a form of compensation that the girlfriend should repay by disposing of the trash. While some argued it was inappropriate to demand specific actions from a partner simply because he chose to drive, others countered that in a close relationship, handling small tasks for one another is a valid form of consideration.

Following the broadcast, the debate spread online. Critics specifically targeted Lee for over-interpreting the situation by assuming reactions from the girlfriend that were not explicitly part of the original story. Beyond the personal opinions shared on the show, the intensity of the language used and Lee's attitude have become subjects of further scrutiny.

On the 22nd, Lee reflected on his actions via a fan communication platform. "There is a proper line for a person, and I feel like I have been crossing it while handling my recent schedules," he confessed, adding, "I discovered myself becoming obsessed at some point with having to do better, be funnier, and be more memorable." He further reflected on his behavior, stating, "I have become desensitized to things that are too provocative," and expressed his intent to "become a moderate person again."

Despite the apology, the debate remains ongoing. The video has garnered approximately 10,000 comments, with viewers sharply divided over Lee's remarks. What began as a minor disagreement over car trash has become a case study in the limits of variety show rhetoric, questioning how much speculation is acceptable and how the pursuit of 'entertainment' can eventually lead to viewer discomfort.