J.Y. Park spent 220 million won on kimchi to feed his artists

Singer, producer, and head of JYP Entertainment, J.Y. Park, has once again revealed his extraordinary management philosophy. It is a story of an 'organic cafeteria' that stems not from simple welfare, but from a sense of responsibility toward the artists and employees he nurtures.

In the 409th episode of the MBC entertainment program "The Manager," which aired on the 1st, the daily lives of J.Y. Park and Kyuwon 'Q' Kim were revealed. The most eye-catching scene in this broadcast was the JYP in-house cafeteria. Known as a symbol of entertainment agency welfare in Korea, the cafeteria once again drew attention for its strict ingredient standards and operational philosophy.

J.Y. Park ate with his employees and explained the principles of the JYP cafeteria. He emphasized his criteria for selecting ingredients, stating, “Meat, chicken, and other items must be organic and free-range,” and explained that even fried dishes are “easy to digest because they use organic cold-pressed oil.”

In particular, the fact that the cost of purchasing organic *kimchi* alone reached approximately 220 million won last year was surprising. While this scale is difficult to imagine under the concept of operating a typical corporate cafeteria, for Park, this was not a mere expense, but an 'investment.'

The reason he puts so much effort into the cafeteria stems from his past experiences.

Park stated, “As long as trainees are at the company, I must feed them as if they are my own children.” He further confessed that during the days of the old Cheongdam-dong headquarters, it broke his heart to see young trainees settling for instant food from convenience stores.

“Parents entrusted their trainees to me, so I felt that at the very least, within JYP, they should eat good food as if they were my own children,” he said. His words went beyond a simple CEO's statement, showing the attitude of a guardian who feels responsible for a person's growth process.

To Park, the affiliated artists are not products or means for success. They are 'people' who must grow together over a long period. His philosophy contains the belief that a good environment is necessary to create good music, and that a healthy body and mind ultimately become the foundation of creativity.

In the broadcast, plans to expand the cafeteria following the move to the new headquarters were also revealed. Park teased the new system, saying, “The biggest difference when we move the headquarters is that the kitchen will become three times larger.” In particular, he revealed plans to provide healthy meals even to artists and managers with busy external schedules, as they have even obtained permission for lunchbox manufacturing.

When Lee Young Ja mentioned her past experience visiting the JYP cafeteria and asked, “There was a chef back then; is he still here?” Park replied, “We scouted him from a famous hotel,” once again revealing his sincerity regarding the cafeteria's operation.

While employee welfare is becoming an important competitive edge in recent corporate culture, Park's method goes beyond the dimension of simply 'providing good welfare.' It is closer to a declaration that he will take responsibility for even the most basic matter of eating while nurturing future artists.

Behind the glamorous stages and global success, a system that takes care of people is ultimately required. The 200 million won-range *kimchi* that Park insists on can be seen not just as food, but as a symbol of the 'people-centered management' pursued by the organization known as JYP.