Hey Jini (헤이지니, born Kang Hye-jin 강혜진), a prominent South Korean children's YouTuber with over 4 million subscribers, known for her child-friendly content, is facing serious accusations from a former employee. The ex-staffer claims to have worked up to 16 hours a day, including weekends and holidays, for an annual salary of approximately ₩20 million (about US$14,500), which led to severe mental health deterioration, including panic disorder. The former employee further stated that after a year-long review, their condition was recognized as a work-related injury in January 2020, but they continue to receive psychiatric treatment and even attempted suicide in April of the same year. The allegations have garnered significant attention.
According to Korean media reports, former employee 'A' recently posted a lengthy article online, detailing their past work environment and the process of applying for work-related injury recognition. A stated that they had been friends with Hey Jini for many years and were invited in December 2016 to jointly operate a Chinese-language channel as a content creator. However, upon officially joining the company, the actual workload proved to be far more demanding than anticipated.
A explained that they were not only responsible for writing and translating scripts for the Chinese channel but also handled tasks such as contacting voice actors, supervising voiceovers, video editing, and uploading, essentially managing the entire channel's production and operation single-handedly. The initial agreed annual salary was ₩20 million, later increased to ₩21 million. However, A claimed that the company did not pay overtime, despite them often working up to 16 hours a day and at least five weekends a month, with no breaks even during major holidays like Lunar New Year.
A revealed that they repeatedly requested additional staff due to the excessive workload, but their requests were never addressed. It wasn't until October 2018 that they decided to resign. Less than a week after their departure, the company hired a new Chinese employee, which further fueled A's dissatisfaction with having shouldered such a heavy workload alone for so long.
A further stated that in November of the same year, while working overtime at the company, they suddenly experienced breathing difficulties and sought emergency medical attention. They were subsequently diagnosed with panic disorder, depression, and social anxiety, severely impacting their mental and physical health. However, what A found truly unacceptable was the alleged change in the company's attitude during the work-related injury application process. A claimed that the company initially expressed willingness to assist with the application but later submitted an opinion letter to the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (근로복지공단), which A interpreted as denying any connection between their work and their illness.
A also alleged that Hey Jini offered to pay them ₩4 million (about US$2,900) privately in exchange for not applying for work-related injury compensation, an offer which A ultimately refused.
A also pointed out that the company's opinion letter questioned their illness by mentioning that they had traveled during their leave of absence. In response, A explained that the trip was taken on a doctor's recommendation and that the company had been informed in advance, expressing surprise that this was used to doubt their condition.
A lamented that what they found most unbearable was that people who had witnessed their severe panic attacks at the company would still doubt their illness. They stated that their symptoms worsened drastically after a phone call with Hey Jini.
After approximately a year of review, A's condition was finally recognized as a work-related injury in January 2020. However, A revealed that their mental and physical health did not improve, and in April of the same year, their condition became so severe that they attempted suicide. They continue to receive psychiatric treatment at a university hospital.
Furthermore, A expressed dissatisfaction with Hey Jini's portrayal as a boss who doesn't demand overtime from employees during her appearance on the KBS2 variety show 'The Boss Has Donkey Ears' (사장님 귀는 당나귀 귀). A felt that the work environment depicted on the show was vastly different from their personal experience, making the content difficult to accept.
Regarding these controversies, the company, as reported by the Korean media outlet 'Sisa Journal' mentioned by A, stated that the Chinese content-related work was carried out under mutual agreement. Considering the nature of the work, which made precise calculation of working hours difficult, a comprehensive working hour system contract was adopted. The company also claimed that employees had flexibility in arranging their work, including working from home. However, A refuted this, emphasizing that they "never worked from home for a single day." Regarding unemployment benefits, A also stated that the company's account differed from the actual circumstances of their departure.
A concluded by emphasizing that the purpose of their post was not to attack or criticize specific individuals, but to publicly share their personal experience of the work environment, the process of applying for work-related injury compensation, and the suffering endured during that period.
Hey Jini is a well-known South Korean children's YouTuber with approximately 4.13 million subscribers, primarily creating children's content. She also runs a personal lifestyle channel called 'Hyejin's'. She married in 2018 and currently has a son and a daughter.
Currently, the content above primarily stems from the former employee's public accusations. Some disputed details still show discrepancies between both parties' accounts. The relevant responsibilities and facts should be determined by further verification and formal investigation results.
