Comedian Lee Su-ji skewers Korean social absurdities in viral skits

Comedian Lee Su-ji portrays a kindergarten teacher in her YouTube show. Captured from Lee's YouTube channel

Comedian Lee Su-ji has turned Korean social absurdities into viral satire on YouTube's “Hot Issue Ji” and Coupang Play's “SNL Korea.” Her recent sketches target overbearing parents and online misinformation, blending sharp humor with painful realism.

One standout episode, titled “Kindergarten Teacher Lee Min-ji’s Never-Ending 24 Hours [Human Documentary: Real Extreme Jobs],” shows Lee as an overworked teacher with her face marked by heavy dark circles from exhaustion but still trying to keep her composure under relentless pressure from parents. Her attempts to stay upbeat in the face of increasingly absurd demands are both funny and uncomfortably relatable.

In the video, Lee's character starts her day at 4 a.m. and attempts to accommodate a barrage of unreasonable requests: assigning children to classes based on their MBTI personality types, or using eucalyptus-infused plant-based wipes during bathroom breaks for the kids. When a parent questions her personal life after spotting her in Seoul’s Apgujeong, she hits a breaking point — her eardrum seemingly bursts — yet still forces a smile and says, “I just went out to buy butter rice cakes.”

The comedian, who is herself the parent of a 4-year-old, draws on personal experience and social observation to lend authenticity to her work. The result is a pointed critique of how excessive parental complaints can undermine teachers’ authority, a theme that has resonated strongly with viewers in Korea.

Lee Su-ji plays a middle-aged woman in her YouTube show. Captured from Lee's YouTube channel

Audience response has been explosive. The video quickly filled with comments from current and former kindergarten teachers sharing similar experiences. One viewer wrote, “I’m watching this after work at a daycare and I’m in tears … the reality is even worse than this. This is nothing. I’m rooting for all teachers.” Another commented, “I hope this small spark started by Lee Su-ji exposes the harsh realities of childcare in Korea and leads to meaningful change.”

The video, released April 7, surpassed 5 million views and amassed more than 23,000 comments.

Another recent video, released Tuesday, titled “A Lively Day in the Life of Poet Hwang Jung-ja! [The Golden Age of Seniors],” also gained traction, satirizing seniors falling for YouTube scams and unverified rumors, amplifying concerns over digital literacy among Korea's aging population.

In it, Lee plays a middle-aged woman who reacts with shock after seeing a rumor on YouTube claiming a celebrity has died, saying, “Wait, this guy I saw on TV died this morning?” When the production team explains it’s fake news and shouldn’t be believed, she grows angry, saying, “People who make up lies like this should be sent to jail.”

As she scrolls through other stories, she adds, “Then is this person’s divorce fake too? Why would there be smoke if there’s no fire?” Viewers responded with comments like, “This feels like watching my parents,” and “It’s funny, but also a bit bitter.”

The momentum has carried over to her appearances on Coupang Play’s “SNL Korea,” particularly in the “Smile Clinic” segment. Her sketch nails a dermatology receptionist's exaggerated politeness laced with sales pressure, complete with tense gestures and overly crisp speech. Viewers praise its “spot-on realism,” sparking memes that linger long after broadcasts, reflecting Korea's cutthroat beauty industry and service-sector emotional labor.

Critics say Lee’s work goes beyond mimicry, using satire to provoke reflection and, in some cases, encourage social awareness and change.

“The performance serves as a powerful social message, drawing parallels to the recent death of a kindergarten teacher in Bucheon who was unable to take a sick leave despite having the flu due to an excessive workload and a lack of substitute staff,” said cultural critic Kwon Sang-hee.

“While news reports focus on the need for better working conditions, this video visually recreates the emotional isolation and physical limits these teachers endure. Comedy has become a potent medium for highlighting a tragic reality,” she added.