Etoos removes all Lee Do courses following lecture suspension controversy

All 17 courses and student reviews for instructor Lee Do disappeared from the Etoos website by noon on the 10th. The removal follows backlash over his decision to suspend geography lectures for health reasons just 21 days before the 2027 academic year CSAT.

Social studies instructor Lee Do, who sparked controversy by attending a variety show production press conference after suspending his lectures due to health issues just 20 days before the CSAT, has effectively vanished from his affiliated platform. Following the disappearance of all 17 previously available courses and the removal of student reviews from public lists, attention is focused on the changes occurring between the instructor and the platform. However, Etoos has not officially announced specific measures, such as the termination of his contract.

As of noon on the 10th, a check of the official Etoos website revealed that the number of courses listed on Lee Do's instructor introduction page has changed from 17 to 0. The seven existing student reviews have also disappeared from the public list. Major content accessible to students, including courses and reviews, has been deleted simultaneously. Lee Do's Q&A board has been switched to private, and inquiries regarding courses can now only be made through telephone or 1-on-1 inquiries.

The controversy began on the 29th of last month. With 21 days remaining until the 2027 academic year CSAT, Lee Do announced that he would be unable to proceed with the remaining portions of his Korean Geography and World Geography lectures due to health issues. He apologized to students, stating that he would focus on recovering his health for the remainder of the year following medical advice. For students facing the exam, the suspension of lectures was an issue that could impact their overall study plans.

However, the controversy intensified just one week after the announcement of the lecture suspension, when Lee Do attended a production press conference for the Netflix variety show 'The Devil's Plan: Dead Again' on the 5th. His appearance at an official broadcast program event while having suspended lectures due to health issues conflicted with the sentiments of the students. Criticism intensified as it was reported that Lee Do expressed a desperate desire to appear in the program at the event.

Backlash expanded further when it was revealed that he opened a personal channel, 'Do You Know Lee Do?', and encouraged subscriptions on the 7th. Criticisms followed regarding whether it was appropriate to continue broadcasting activities and operating a personal channel after placing the practical burden of lecture suspension on students ahead of the CSAT. The core of the controversy emerged from the differing perspectives regarding rest for health recovery versus engaging in external activities.

As the situation escalated, Etoos released an apology via its official website on the 9th. "We have caused great concern to Lee Do's students during this important period ahead of the CSAT," Etoos expressed regret. The company explained, "We have been coordinating schedules with the instructor and supporting filming to ensure lectures could continue normally, but due to the instructor's circumstances, the agreed-upon schedule could not ultimately be kept." The company acknowledged that despite efforts to normalize the lectures, the promised schedule was not fulfilled.

Etoos added, "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to learning." Immediately after the platform's official apology, it was confirmed that the courses and student reviews had all disappeared from the public lists, focusing attention on Lee Do's future teaching activities and his relationship with Etoos. However, it has not been confirmed whether the deletion of the courses signifies the termination of his contract or an official removal.

Lee Do, a graduate of Seoul National University's Department of Geography Education, gained public recognition after appearing in the Netflix variety show 'Better Late Than Single' last year. He has since expanded his broadcasting activities, appearing on programs such as MBC's 'Omniscient Interfering View'. While he built recognition by moving between educational content and variety shows, public sentiment has turned cold due to the controversy over the lecture suspension right before the CSAT.

The 2027 academic year CSAT is scheduled to be held on the 19th. With the courses having disappeared and the platform's apology released just 9 days before the exam, attention is on how this controversy will affect Lee Do's future educational and broadcasting activities. This situation, which involves a complex entanglement of students' right to learn, the instructor's personal circumstances, and the platform's management responsibility, is once again highlighting issues of trust in the education market ahead of the CSAT.

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