Current employee defends Heyjini amid labor exploitation allegations

As Kidsworks, the management company behind kids creator Heyjini (real name Kang Hye-jin), denied a former employee's labor exploitation allegations, a current staff member stepped forward to defend the company.

On Tuesday, Heyjini shared an official statement from Kidsworks on her social media. A current employee who said they had worked at Kidsworks for several years posted a lengthy comment that drew attention.

"They were considerate enough to let me take a month off without using any of my personal leave," the employee wrote.

The employee said it was their first job and that they had continued working there for years, adding that staying at a first job for so long was no easy feat. "The reason I have been able to stay here this long is because of the people I work with," they wrote. The employee also said that when work ran late, management would notify staff in advance, and that employees could take a taxi home or adjust their start time the following day. When weekend or evening shoots were scheduled, days off were arranged on Mondays or other weekdays to compensate, they said.

"When I came across accounts of people having difficulty taking time off, it felt unfamiliar because it was different from what I had personally experienced," the employee wrote, and went on to say that they could not judge other employees' working conditions based solely on their own experience, as they did not know everyone's situation.

Earlier, a former Kidsworks employee had alleged labor exploitation, claiming they had been diagnosed with panic disorder and depression after being overworked.

The former employee said they had received an annual salary of 20 million won ($14,900) with no separate overtime pay, and that they had developed panic disorder and depression in the process. They also alleged that even after receiving recognition for an industrial accident, the company proposed paying 4 million won instead of supporting a workers' compensation claim.

As the controversy spread, Kidsworks denied the allegations in a statement, saying it had not obstructed any workers' compensation filing, had instead referred the employee to an outside certified labor attorney, helped arrange a direct consultation, and ensured the employee received clear guidance on the application process.