“They said annual pay was raised by 25%, but it went from 20 million to 21 million won”... Hey Jini’s former employee releases withholding tax statement

[Financial News] Hey Jini, a kids’ creator, and a former employee who raised allegations of labor exploitation are locked in a head-on dispute over the size of a salary increase and the circumstances of the employee’s departure. Hey Jini’s real name is Kang Hye-jin.
According to online communities and other sources on the 29th, former employee A posted three documents the previous day—including an earned income tax withholding receipt, a resignation confirmation, and a workers’ compensation notice—saying the company’s statement did not match what A had experienced and that the documents were intended to set the record straight.
The four main points of contention are the salary increase rate, whether working from home was allowed, the nature of a bonus paid during leave, and the circumstances of the employee’s departure.
Kidsworks, operated by Hey Jini, had said on the 27th that it regretted A’s deteriorating health, while also stating that it had accommodated A by raising the salary by 25%, adjusting working hours, and allowing work from home.
However, according to documents A released the following day, the annual salary at the time of joining was 20 million won, and there was only one raise during A’s employment, bringing it to 21 million won. A countered that this meant the increase was 5%, not 25%.
A also disputed the claim about working from home, saying it never happened during A’s employment. In fact, A said they borrowed a laptop and worked even while hospitalized after a fall.
A also said the bonus reportedly paid during leave was not special support. The approximately 2.69 million won A received in December 2018 included wages for time actually worked, and the bonus was a year-end payment distributed to all employees, A explained.
The circumstances of the departure are where the two sides’ accounts diverge most sharply. Kidsworks said A left the company voluntarily in May 2019, but A said they agreed to leave after trusting a promise that it would be processed as a recommended resignation. A said it was instead processed as a resignation due to illness, leaving them unable to receive unemployment benefits.
A said, “I do not deny any of the support the company provided. It is true that I was allowed to take leave, and it is also true that I received help with my rental deposit,” but added, “The fact that such support was provided and the difficulties I faced in the working environment at the time are separate issues.”
A added, “What I want is not for the company’s support to be the only thing emphasized, but for people to also know the circumstances in which I worked at the time and why I ended up taking leave and leaving the company.”
A had previously disclosed working up to 16 hours a day and being assigned various miscellaneous tasks. Another former employee, B, had also claimed that compensation was inadequate relative to long hours and weekend work.
Hey Jini runs a YouTube channel with about 4.13 million subscribers and has appeared as a young CEO on programs including KBS 2TV’s “The Boss Has Donkey Ears.”

[email protected] Seong Min-seo Reporter