The family of Lee Ji-hoon and Ayane. Instagram screenshot

Ayane, the wife of singer and musical actor Lee Ji-hoon, expressed dissatisfaction on social media toward the daycare attended by her 22-month-old daughter and was met with backlash. At a time when the difficulties faced by childcare teachers and infringements on their authority have emerged as social issues, there are concerns that a hasty ‘public call-out’ by a celebrity family with wide reach could snowball into uncontrollable fallout, reminiscent of the past case involving Moon Jung-won, the wife of Lee Hwi-jae.

On the 7th, Ayane said via her social media that a candy wrapper had been found in the bag of her 22-month-old daughter, Ru-hee, expressing shock. Stating that she has stuck to a no-salt diet, she said, “Since she did not yet know the taste, even if she received something at the hospital or a cultural center, she would only go on about candy, and I persuaded her by saying ‘You cannot eat this~’, so she did not whine, but now she has come to know that she can eat it,” revealing her distress.

However, the remarks immediately drew public outrage from netizens. Reactions criticizing Ayane for being careless poured in, such as, “If you send a child to an institution, do you not do so prepared for them to be given candy or snacks?”, “It is understandable to be surprised at first, but I do not think a public figure should write like this in a public space”, and “You will need to keep leaving your child at daycare, so after this how will you face the teachers?”

As the controversy grew, Ayane did not back down, saying, “I am not asking the daycare to provide a no-salt diet only for our child, so is it so laughable that we try to uphold it as much as possible at home?”, and “Whether to season meals for a child or not is not such a big issue. That is up to the mother.”

However, as days of criticism did not subside, she eventually bowed her head. Ayane apologized, saying, “I will make sure to always think about not placing a burden on daycare teachers,” and “I have never actually forced my standards on others. I just posted because I was a bit upset. As the wife of a public figure, I was once again reminded that I must post only after considering the possibility that it could turn into a news article.” Her husband Lee Ji-hoon also sought to calm things, saying, “Sorry for making such a fuss.”

This controversy goes beyond one parent being overly particular about child-rearing, and starkly shows the reach of social media for a celebrity family and the accompanying lack of responsibility. With Ayane having appeared on television with her star husband and shown her face, having many followers, and running a YouTube channel, taking an issue that should have been resolved quietly and directly with the institution into the public arena is, critics say, little different from a ‘public execution’ of childcare teachers.

This aligns with the ‘whooping cough controversy’ involving Kim Da-ye, the wife of broadcaster Park Soo-hong, that erupted in 2024. At the time, Kim Da-ye likewise provoked public anger by posting a sniping message while revealing photos of postpartum care center staff. Furthermore, many say it calls to mind the case of Moon Jung-won, the wife of Lee Hwi-jae, who had to suspend all activities after being hit with a fierce public backlash over issues such as inter-floor noise and allegations of taking toys without paying. It shows that when recognition and influence gained by virtue of being a celebrity family member are used irresponsibly, a minor personal complaint can escalate into a serious social controversy and cause irreparable damage.

Amid renewed attention to the harsh realities and hardships of childcare teachers, spurred in part by parodies from comedian Lee Su-ji, Ayane made hasty remarks that appear unlikely to escape criticism for dampening teacher morale and fomenting unnecessary conflict. Their apology has brought the surface-level controversy to a close for now, but a chilly public gaze is likely to persist for the time being.