Etoos apologizes after star instructor Lee Do halts lectures before CSAT

Etoos issued an official apology on the 9th following the suspension of star instructor Lee Do's lectures just three weeks before the CSAT. Students expressed resentment after Lee Do attended a Netflix variety show press conference in Seoul on the 5th despite previously halting remaining 2027 curriculum lectures for health reasons.

Etoos, the platform representing star instructor Lee Do, has issued an official apology following the suspension of his lectures just three weeks before the CSAT. While the gap in instruction was triggered by the instructor's health issues, the controversy entered a new phase as students expressed intense resentment over his subsequent participation in a variety show press conference and other broadcasting activities. Lee Do himself has not released a separate official statement.

In a notice posted on its website on the 9th, Etoos stated, "We have caused great concern to Lee Do's students during this critical period ahead of the CSAT," adding, "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to your studies." The platform acknowledged the disruption to the learning schedules of students preparing for entrance exams and issued the official apology.

Etoos also provided specific details regarding the suspension of the lectures. Following a notice issued under Lee Do's own name on October 29, it was announced that the remaining lectures for this year would not be conducted. The platform claimed it had been coordinating schedules and supporting filming to ensure lectures could continue normally, emphasizing that the suspension was not a unilateral decision by the platform, stating, "Due to the instructor's circumstances, the agreed-upon schedule could not ultimately be maintained."

The Q&A board, where student protests were concentrated, has been switched to private mode. Etoos instructed students to direct course-related inquiries to the customer center or via 1-on-1 inquiries, but the apology did not offer specific compensation measures, such as refunds or the provision of alternative lectures. Whether the platform can resolve the dissatisfaction of students who experienced a learning gap immediately before the CSAT remains an open question.

Previously, on the 29th of last month, Lee Do announced via a handwritten letter that he would be unable to proceed with the remaining lectures for the 2027 academic year Korean Geography and World Geography curriculum due to health reasons. He explained, "Following medical advice, I have decided to take time for myself for the first time during the remainder of 2026." While the intent was to suspend lectures to recover his health, the announcement came approximately three weeks before the 2027 academic year CSAT is scheduled for the 19th, which inevitably placed a significant burden on students.

The controversy intensified following his subsequent broadcasting activities. On the 5th, Lee Do attended the production press conference for the Netflix variety show 'The Devil's Plan: Dead Again' held at the Mondrian Seoul Itaewon in Yongsan District, Seoul. During the event, he shared an anecdote about meeting PD Jung Jong-yeon at a Netflix event last year, stating, "I requested that if they produced 'The Devil's Plan 3,' they please look at me just once." The fact that he attended a variety show press conference and personally expressed his desire to appear to the production team immediately after announcing the lecture suspension fueled further resentment among students.

The criticism from students has expanded beyond his television appearances to questions regarding his professional responsibility and priorities. One student criticized him on a board, mentioning his attendance at the press conference and the opening of a YouTube channel, stating, "It seems he wants to be a celebrity rather than an instructor." Another post pointed out that while Q&A responses and textbook provisions continue to be delayed, he is appearing in a Netflix variety show, noting, "Shouldn't an instructor be faithful to their main profession?" The intensity of the dissatisfaction stems from the fact that for students facing the CSAT, the completeness of lectures and learning support are not merely services, but issues directly linked to their entrance exam results.

The sensitivity of this situation is heightened by Lee Do's history of suspending lectures. He had a previous instance of partially suspending lectures last year due to health issues. At that time, Etoos announced that only some lectures for the 2026 season would be newly provided, citing "the instructor's health and personal scheduling matters," and explained that the measure was unrelated to variety show appearances. As a similar situation repeats after about a year, questions are being raised among students regarding the stability of lecture provision and trust in the instructor's activities.

Amid the ongoing controversy, Lee Do has not yet directly responded to the criticism surrounding his lecture suspension and variety show appearance. However, on the 8th, he posted on his SNS, "My eyes hurt, so I am writing textbooks with only my right eye open and now I am going to sleep. The 2027 textbooks and lectures must be perfect," sharing an update on his textbook writing. While this message suggested he is continuing to prepare for future textbooks and lectures despite his health issues, he did not directly address the responsibility and compensation issues regarding the lecture gap raised by students.

Lee Do is a social studies instructor at Etoos who drew attention as the platform's youngest CSAT instructor after starting his career while attending the Department of Geography Education at Seoul National University. His appearance in the Netflix dating variety show 'Better Late Than Single' last year helped him build a name in the broadcasting industry beyond educational content. Whether his movement between the roles of instructor and entertainer will be evaluated as a new possibility, or whether he can restore the trust of students facing the CSAT, will depend on his future response.

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