Coupang Part-timer Kim Se-in, Like the Late Jang Ja-yeon, Was Forced into Dating by Agency CEO

Kim Se-in, who once worked as an actress, revealed the story of how she came to work in Coupang delivery due to financial hardship and the unfair treatment she claims to have suffered from her former agency CEO. She stated that her appearance fees were withheld, and even after lending money she had painstakingly saved, she was unable to get it back; furthermore, when she refused demands to date the CEO, she was not even informed of scheduled filming sessions. Kim Se-in shocked viewers by disclosing that she experienced similar incidents at the time the late Jang Ja-yeon passed away. As these painful memories from her days chasing the dream of being an actress are revealed belatedly, the unfair contract practices and power dynamics in the entertainment industry are drawing attention once again.

On the 9th, a video titled "The Reason Why a Successful Actress Lives Doing Coupang Delivery" was released on the YouTube channel 'Into Everyday Life'. Appearing in the video, Kim Se-in looked back on her past as an actress after entering the entertainment industry in her childhood. She explained, "When I was five, my mother took me to a pretty child contest and I stood out," and noted that she naturally continued her acting career after starting to take minor roles. Her period of active work lasted until about 10 years ago, and she cited 'Oh My God' as her most memorable work.

It was not without economic difficulties from the start of her acting career. Recalling her unknown days, Kim Se-in said, "When I first went out for minor roles, the appearance fee for 24 hours of filming was 7,000 won. I was a middle school student at the time, and everyone was like that back then." This means she received an incredibly small amount of pay despite long hours of filming. She shared the situation of the time, where she was deployed to sets at a young age to build her acting career, but it was difficult to expect economic compensation worthy of her efforts.

Kim Se-in claimed that the bigger problem arose in her relationship with the agency CEO. She revealed that the CEO disappeared after taking her appearance fees, and although she lent several million won she had on hand after being asked to lend him money, she could not get it back. She added that she suffered greatly because she had no money when she needed to pay monthly rent. For her, who had to continue her livelihood while working as an actress, the loss of appearance fees and personal funds was more than just financial damage; it was a threat to her very survival.

Among Kim Se-in's revelations, the part that caused particular shock was the claim that the agency CEO pressured her using filming as a pretext while demanding she date him. She recalled that when the Jang Ja-yeon case was socially known, she was also "suffering similarly." According to Kim Se-in's explanation, she only found out there was a scheduled filming session after receiving a contact from the staff on the day of filming asking why she had not shown up at the site. She said that the day before, the agency CEO called her to a charcoal-grilled meat restaurant, made her drink alcohol, and then said, "If you're not going to date me, I'll cancel all the filming."

Kim Se-in claimed that she did not receive the filming schedule after stating she had no intention of accepting the CEO's demand to date. If true, this is a serious issue in that the agency's influence was used as a direct means of pressure on an actress's job and career. For an actress, filming opportunities are directly linked to her livelihood and career maintenance. In particular, rookie or unknown actresses often rely on agencies for information regarding contracts, schedules, and casting opportunities, which can place them in a situation where it is difficult to refuse unfair demands due to fears of disadvantages in the relationship.

Kim Se-in also pointed out issues surrounding exclusive contracts. She said, "The most wicked CEOs make a 5-year contract and won't let you go," adding, "They were just tying you down." This refers to cases where, despite signing long-term contracts, they do not provide practical support for activities but instead hold the actor so they cannot make other choices. While an exclusive contract is a promise for the agency and the actor to design activities together, it is pointed out that if contractual authority is excessively concentrated on one side, it can act as a shackle for rookie actors.

This confession goes beyond Kim Se-in's personal past and makes one reflect on the vulnerable working environment of the entertainment industry. The structure where actors who debut at a young age do not receive fair pay, or experience unfair demands in their relationship with agencies but find it difficult to raise issues due to fears of career interruption, has been repeatedly pointed out for a long time. The late Jang Ja-yeon case is also remembered as an event that socially raised awareness regarding the power dynamics in the entertainment industry and the issue of protecting the weak. However, the specific factual details and legal responsibilities of the experiences mentioned by Kim Se-in must be verified separately, and her claims should not be immediately concluded to be identical to other cases.

Having revealed the wounds from her time as an actress, Kim Se-in is sharing the reason why she lives doing Coupang delivery work. The reality that she, who once roamed acting sets, chose a different job for her livelihood shows that building a career in the entertainment industry and maintaining a stable life do not necessarily coincide. Attention is focused on whether Kim Se-in's confession will serve as an opportunity to look back on the unfair relationships and contract practices between actors and agencies, rather than just revealing the pain of the past.

Read the original (Korean)