YouTuber Mimi Minu (Kim Min-woo) Declares Full Refund of Ad Fees After Partner Company Goes Bankrupt — Another Trial Following ‘Slam’ Controversy

Mimi Minu (real name Kim Min-woo), a leading creator in the test prep education scene, is facing another major wave. Just as he was navigating the legal battles of the 'Slam' (a defamation lawsuit involving a show participant) late last year, he now finds his credibility tested once more, caught up in the sudden bankruptcy of a startup he had promoted. However, Kim Min-woo has responded with an unexpectedly bold move, drawing intense interest from netizens.

Betrayal by the 'Study and Earn' App? The Part-Time Study Bankruptcy

The incident began on March 24th with the sudden bankruptcy of a study app called 'Part-Time Study.' The app allowed users to put down a deposit (up to 200,000 Korean Won) and promised to return it with added rewards if they achieved their study goals, making it hugely popular among test-takers as an app to 'earn pocket money while studying.' But after a few days of delayed refunds, the operating company, Studywork Inc., ultimately entered bankruptcy proceedings without any prior notice.

The problem was that this app had been actively promoted on Mimi Minu's channel just months earlier. Victims began organizing group chats on social media to assess the scope of the damages, with one such chat room now holding over 860 members. Reported losses range from 100,000 to as high as 900,000 Korean Won per person. One victim expressed their frustration, saying, "For a test-taker, 200,000 won is a huge amount of money. Overnight, I became a creditor."

Mimi Minu's Response: "I Will Refund the Full Ad Fee from My Own Pocket"

In this situation, Kim Min-woo released an apology video, about two minutes long, on March 25th, the day after the news broke. He stated, "I want to take responsibility for the current situation where many people haven't received their deposits back because a company I ran ads for on my channel went bankrupt," and declared, "I will formally deliver the full amount of advertising fees I received from that company, plus an additional sum, to those who were affected." This went beyond simply returning the ad revenue; he indicated he would bear additional costs himself.

While explaining, "I conducted two ads with them from last June up to last month, meeting the CEO in person and thoroughly vetting the company, but even I only found out on the day of the bankruptcy that the signs of financial trouble were hidden from internal directors until the very end," he added, "With the CEO unreachable, I felt that the right thing to do was to take responsibility as quickly as possible for the people who trusted me and my channel." Immediately after posting the video, he also removed all related promotional content from his channel to prevent further damage.

Two Crises: The 'Slam' Controversy and This Incident

In fact, this incident marks Kim Min-woo's second major headache this year alone. Previously, in October of last year, he was sued for defamation and insult by an individual, referred to as 'A,' who had appeared in his content. At the time, 'A' left the show after online suspicions arose about a stolen laptop, and claimed to have suffered emotional distress because Mimi Minu read malicious comments about it as if they were fact during a live stream. This case, known as the 'Slam' controversy, is still under police investigation. Back then, Mimi Minu took a cautious stance, stating on his fan cafe, "We are preparing a legal response and will share our position once there is a result."

This is why his swift decision for a 'full refund' in the 'Part-Time Study' situation is garnering so much attention. It appears he has chosen to prioritize 'trust' over strictly defining legal liability.

• Decisive Action: Posted a video within a day of the incident, promising a full refund of ad fees plus additional support, effectively cutting off criticism of 'irresponsible promotion.'
• Engaging with Victims: Immediately after posting the video, he contacted the victims' group to arrange the transfer of the promised amount through a proper verification process.
• No Shying Away from Responsibility: While emphasizing that the company hid its financial troubles until just before bankruptcy, he acknowledged his own moral responsibility when the CEO became unreachable.

For Test-Takers, 'Trust' is Everything... What Was Kim Min-woo's Choice?

While some speculate that this decision might be purely for image management, the majority of netizens are reacting positively. Comments like, "It's not an easy decision to give up the entire ad fee he received, especially when he could also be considered a victim," and "I appreciate his swift response," are prevalent.

As a creator dealing with the sensitive topics of entrance exams and education, 'trust' is the core asset of the Mimi Minu personal brand. Kim Min-woo has positioned himself as a 'mentor' for test-takers, leveraging his own authentic story of finally getting into Korea University after five attempts. Whether this decision ends up being merely a post-crisis cleanup or becomes a turning point to solidify his reputation as a reliable creator, 'Mimi Minu you can trust,' depends on his next steps. All eyes are on how the refund process for the victims will actually unfold, and what the final legal outcome of the still-pending 'Slam' case will be.