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Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL, South Korea – July 15, 2025 – Hyundai Motor has issued an official apology to a YouTuber after a recent controversy erupted over alleged rude behavior by one of its dealership employees. However, public criticism persists, with many questioning whether the apology was genuinely remorseful.
On July 13, popular lifestyle YouTuber “Sky,” who has over 360,000 subscribers, uploaded a video titled “Hyundai Reached Out to Me After the Incident”. The video followed an earlier post on July 10 that showed Sky being denied service at a Hyundai dealership after attempting to film a consultation for purchasing a Kona or Grandeur model.
In the latest video, the dealership’s branch manager called Sky, offering a formal apology and inviting him to the manager’s office to receive it in person. During the meeting, the employee in question stood and apologized, stating, “I sincerely apologize for my unfriendly behavior last time. Looking back, I realize that telling you filming was entirely prohibited from the beginning would have prevented this.”
Sky accepted the apology and clarified that his intention was not to have the staff punished but to see improved customer service across dealerships. The branch manager promised enhanced employee training on customer service in the future.
However, the apology sparked further backlash online. Netizens criticized the manager’s justification of the incident, where he attributed the controversy to the employee’s “naturally deep voice,” suggesting that it may have come across as abrasive in the video. Some commenters called the apology tone-deaf, while others urged Hyundai to release a formal corporate statement.
Critics wrote:
“That’s not an apology. They’re just blaming the YouTuber again.”
“Calling the customer in to ‘receive’ an apology is still showing the wrong attitude.”
“The issue isn't just tone, it's that they refused service after the customer offered to stop filming.”
The original incident involved the YouTuber being told mid-conversation that he would not be helped, even after he agreed to stop filming. The employee reportedly said, “Do I really have to do this now? I don’t feel like explaining anything to you.”
While many viewers sided with the YouTuber, some suggested the staff may have believed the customer lacked genuine purchase intent. Still, the dominant sentiment online remains critical of Hyundai's customer service response and its handling of the viral situation.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
