South Korean girl group RESCENE (리센느) recently saw an unexpected surge in popularity thanks to the highly catchy 'Geoje YAHO' (거제 야호) meme. Just as their momentum was building, the group suddenly found itself at the center of a '0.3 Park Wee' controversy, prompting many netizens to exclaim, "They just went viral, and now there's trouble?"
RESCENE, originally a rookie girl group, gained unexpected recognition as the 'Geoje YAHO' meme spread rapidly online. Even their debut track rode this wave, making a comeback on Korean music charts. Following their rapid rise in popularity, the group secured advertising deals, made frequent appearances on variety shows, and was even invited to participate in local city promotional events, becoming a notable 'comeback girl group' in the K-pop scene. However, just as RESCENE's popularity peaked, a '0.3 Park Wee' discussion suddenly erupted on Korean online forums.
The controversy stems from the past 'KTX fall accident' involving YouTuber Park Wee (박위), husband of former Secret member Song Ji-eun (송지은). As budget review meeting minutes and contract details from various local governments and public institutions were successively released, public attention turned to the fees he received for speeches and events.
According to minutes from the Seoul Dongjak District Administrative and Financial Committee's review of the 2025 budget proposal, the Dongjak Cultural Foundation, when discussing inviting Park Wee, noted that he had "quoted approximately 10 million to 15 million Korean won or more." However, this amount was only an inquiry and negotiation figure, not the final contracted amount, leading some to question whether such a high fee was appropriate for public funds from a local government.
Among these, the Gangnam Cultural Foundation had signed a contract with Park Wee for a Talk Concert worth 9.35 million Korean won (approximately 200,000 New Taiwan Dollars) earlier this month, but the event was ultimately canceled after the related controversy escalated.
Meanwhile, it has recently circulated online that RESCENE appeared in promotional content for Suwon City (수원시), reportedly receiving approximately 3 million Korean won. Some netizens directly compared these two figures, noting that RESCENE's appearance fee was roughly only 30% of Park Wee's contract amount, thus jokingly dubbing the girl group "0.3 Park Wee."
This mocking nickname, "0.3 Park Wee," quickly sparked discussion on Korean online forums. RESCENE had just gone viral thanks to a meme and was rapidly gaining popularity, only to be unexpectedly drawn into a controversy over local government promotional event fees.
It is worth noting that Park Wee himself had previously faced controversy regarding the 'KTX fall accident.' He had publicly shared CCTV footage of his wheelchair overturning while disembarking from a KTX train, but the face of the social service worker who assisted him was exposed without consent, leading to criticism. The related video was later taken down, and Park Wee issued an apology.
The RESCENE appearance fees circulating online are primarily based on discussions, and the actual amounts and contract details should still be confirmed by official sources. Nevertheless, for RESCENE, who had just experienced a surge in popularity with 'Geoje YAHO,' being suddenly branded with the "0.3 Park Wee" moniker has unexpectedly added another layer to their viral fame.
