Comedian Lee Su-ji has mastered reality once again, and this time, she is taking on the role of a kindergarten teacher!
On her YouTube channel ‘Hot Issue-ji’, Lee Su-ji introduced the character Lee Min-ji, a kindergarten teacher who perfectly captures the struggles of the profession. While it might seem like an exaggerated setup, it deeply reflects the fatigue and emotional labor faced in early childhood education.
The video follows the format of a “Human Documentary True Extreme Job.” As Lee Min-ji, Lee Su-ji shows the daily grind: greeting children in the morning, preparing lessons, leading outdoor activities, handling phone calls from parents, and writing in KidsNote. Even when the children go home, the teacher’s work is far from over.
The scenes are incredibly detailed. From having to immediately explain and apologize when a child gets a mosquito bite to facing criticism over her outfit during outdoor activities, Lee Su-ji shows how teachers must justify every little thing. There is even a scene where a child with COVID-19 attends school, highlighting how teachers bear all the responsibility for safety without having enough control.
The “rock-paper-scissors complaint” is a highlight of the character. When Lee Min-ji wins a game against a child, it somehow turns into a complaint from a parent. It shows how kindergarten teachers act as a buffer, absorbing not just the children’s needs but also the parents’ anxieties.
Lee Su-ji does not explain this structure with words. Instead, she uses her expressions: a smiling but exhausted face and a voice that sounds completely burnt out. That face is the key to the realism.
This character has resonated so strongly because the perspective is shifted to the teacher. Usually, early childhood education is discussed in terms of parent anxiety or child safety, leaving the teacher’s labor in the background. Lee Su-ji brings that hidden struggle to the forefront.
Teachers are expected to love the children, be kind to parents, prevent accidents, and keep meticulous records, all while remaining emotionally unshakable. The video wraps this contradiction in humor.
Although it was made to be funny, it left viewers with more than just laughs. Comments are filled with people saying, “I laughed, then I cried,” while actual teachers reacted, saying, “This isn’t acting; this is my daily life.”
This is how Lee Su-ji’s parodies always work. They are funny on the surface, but the level of observation is incredibly high. She does not just mimic a way of speaking; she captures the specific vocabulary, gaze, gestures, intonation, and way of handling situations. Her characters are more like a reproduction of reality than a simple imitation.
Recently, her range of parody has expanded. She no longer just mimics a single person but captures the overall vibe shared by specific professions, social classes, generations, regions, and cultures.
Because of this, her alt-characters are more than just passing trends. They are re-interpreted in comment sections, reshared in communities, and expanded upon by professionals sharing their own experiences. If laughter is the entrance to the content, empathy is the exit.
A great parody does not just end with a compliment about the resemblance; it makes you see the subject in a new light. That is exactly what Lee Min-ji did. Lee Su-ji once again mirrored reality, and that reality was heavier than expected. The laughter was light, but the lingering feeling was not. Once again, Lee Su-ji hit the nail on the head.
