Backlash hits National Assembly after it reprimands unpaid K-pop mogul Park Jin-young over US trip

Public criticism is mounting against the National Assembly after it issued a formal "Caution" to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism over singer Park Jin-young's personal activities during a US business trip. Many argue the rebuke was excessive given that Park serves without pay and covered all personal expenses himself.

According to the Popular Culture Exchange Committee and other sources, the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee voted Wednesday at a plenary session to issue the Caution to the ministry, calling on it to "clearly distinguish between official duties and schedules related to personal or affiliated business interests" in connection with Park's trip.

Park, who serves as co-chair of the Presidential Popular Culture Exchange Committee — a minister-level post — traveled to the United States from Nov. 13 to Nov. 23 last year to conduct meetings and other work related to "Phenomenon," a large-scale Korean cultural festival in the planning stages. His officially reimbursed government travel covered Nov. 13 through Nov. 18; he carried out personal activities in the United States for the remainder of the trip.

Following the Assembly's action, the committee's support secretariat released a statement saying all travel expenses and scheduling arrangements for the trip "were handled lawfully in accordance with relevant laws and regulations," and that all costs for the latter portion of the trip — including his return flight — were borne entirely by Park himself. The secretariat added that, as a non-standing civilian committee member, Park was not required under the rules to seek prior approval for changes to personal plans or a delayed return after the conclusion of his official duties.

The news sparked a wave of criticism online. Many commenters argued it was unreasonable to reprimand someone volunteering their time for the country and paying out of pocket for personal activities. Park addressed his unpaid role last month on the MBC variety program "Jeonjijeojeok Chamgyeon Sijeom," saying he agreed to take the position only on a non-standing basis. "If you work full-time, you get paid and receive a lot of benefits, but I said I would do it only as a non-standing member," he said. "It makes no sense to serve at a minister level without pay, but Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik resolved everything so I had no choice but to accept. I don't even receive a salary." Park also said he declined the official vehicle that comes with the ministerial post.

Online commenters were blunt. "Park Jin-young's net worth is 500 billion won — does the Assembly think he's traveling abroad on taxpayer money like lawmakers and civil servants do?" wrote one user. Others said, "Tell the politicians to stop going on their own leisure trips abroad," "Isn't it too much to do this to someone working for free? Who would want to work under these conditions?" and "If it's true he paid out of his own pocket, this is completely nitpicking."