Hey Jini maintains millions of subscribers despite labor exploitation allegations

YouTuber Hey Jini has maintained 4.13 million subscribers despite controversy following claims by a former employee of labor exploitation and industrial accidents. The former employee, A, alleged they worked up to 16 hours a day in 2017 and 2018 before being diagnosed with panic disorder and depression.

YouTuber Hey Jini has become the center of controversy following allegations of labor exploitation and industrial accidents involving a former employee, but the reaction from subscribers is moving in an unexpected direction. Despite the controversy, the number of subscribers to her channel has not noticeably decreased, with some fans actively defending Hey Jini by questioning the motives behind the former employee's revelations. Conversely, voices calling for responsible apologies and compensation are emerging, criticizing the working environment and the company's response, resulting in a divided online public opinion.

As of the 31st, the YouTube channel 'Hey Jini' maintains 4.13 million subscribers, while the sub-channel 'Hyejin's' has approximately 970,000 subscribers. Even after the labor exploitation controversy intensified following claims made by former employee A on the 27th, there has been no distinct change in the scale of the subscriber base. As the controversy enters its fifth day, the strength of the fandom supporting Hey Jini is drawing attention.

Comments defending Hey Jini account for a significant portion of the discussion. Some subscribers questioned the timing of the disclosure, asking, "Everyone should think about why they are bringing up something that happened about 10 years ago now." They continued, "There is no reason to suddenly bring up something from a long time ago for no reason. Whether the employee has a grudge against Hey Jini or needs money, I believe there must be a reason." This shows a perspective that doubts the former employee's motives before the facts have been fully verified.

Some fans expressed trust in Hey Jini based on her usual interpersonal relationships. One subscriber wrote, "Those who have watched Hyejin's videos for a long time know that Hey Jini has very good relationships with the people around her and maintains them well for a long time." Another subscriber noted her habit of celebrating the production team's birthdays in videos, stating, "It is obvious she is close with the staff." Another reaction mentioned a scene where staff members wrote a rolling paper for her during her pregnancy, saying, "Looking at the staff appearing in other videos, they don't seem to be on bad terms. I wonder why this is being discussed now when it happened 10 years ago. I am neutral."

Some comments interpreted the controversy as a matter of personal emotion or relative deprivation, with typical responses such as "It seems they are jealous because she is successful" or "inferiority complex." However, such claims are difficult to use as a basis for directly addressing the issues of working conditions and industrial accidents raised by the former employee. The intimate relationships shown in videos may be a separate issue from actual conflicts during the work process.

Criticism is also significant. Some users urged a responsible response from Hey Jini's side, leaving comments such as "Please provide proper monetary compensation and apologize," "People are precious," "Have some conscience," and "You have to take good care of the people around you to last long." There are also points made that the bright and friendly content image of a famous creator should be viewed separately from the allegations raised regarding actual company operations.

The controversy resurfaced as A, a friend of Hey Jini and a former employee, claimed to have been diagnosed with panic disorder and other conditions while working at the company, and that these were recognized as industrial accidents. A stated that they were essentially solely responsible for the production and operation of the Chinese language channel, which involved repeated long hours of overtime and weekend work. According to A, the annual salary in 2017 and 2018 was 20 million won, and they worked up to 16 hours a day.

A claimed, "I worked overtime until dawn every day and had to work on weekends more than five times a month. I could not even rest during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays." A explained that in November 2018, while working overtime at the company, they experienced breathing difficulties and severe seizure symptoms and sought emergency medical treatment, after which they were diagnosed with panic disorder, depression, and social anxiety. A added that seizures continued at the company in December of the same year and that the company proposed unpaid leave.

Claims were also made regarding conflicts with the company during the industrial accident application process. A claimed that the company took a position that it could not recognize the connection between the work and the illness, and even submitted content suggesting doubt about the actual existence of the illness, citing the fact that A had traveled during a rest period. A, who stated that symptoms worsened so rapidly that they attempted an extreme act, revealed that after an application process lasting about one year, the industrial accident was recognized by the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service in January 2020.

In response, Hey Jini's side countered that there were no issues with wage payments or work operations at that time. The company stated, "The annual salary was paid without issue according to the wage system at the time of joining nine years ago, and contrary to what has since been revealed, the salary was increased by 25%, and bonuses were paid separately even during leave." They also explained that since the early stages of founding, the content and methods of assigned tasks were discussed with employees, and broad autonomy was granted regarding work schedules and execution methods. The company also took the position that they allowed for the adjustment of working hours or the choice of remote work depending on the situation.

Following the company's explanation, A countered by disclosing related documents, such as a withholding tax receipt for earned income, a certificate of resignation due to illness, and a notice of decision on medical care benefits. As the claims of both sides clash, the core issues are expanding beyond whether salary increases and bonuses were paid to include actual working hours, the intensity of work, the causal relationship between the illness and the work, and what position the company took during the industrial accident application process.

The phenomenon of a creator with millions of subscribers maintaining their content image and fandom trust amidst controversy is noteworthy. However, subscriber counts or comment reactions cannot serve as a standard for judging the truth of the allegations. Regardless of the friendly image built over a long time, claims surrounding the working environment must be verified through specific data and objective facts. With Hey Jini's explanation and A's rebuttal facing off, the direction of public opinion ultimately depends on the evidence presented by both sides and their responsible follow-up responses.

Read the original (Korean)