Call recording released in dispute between Hey Jini and former employee

A call recording has been released involving kids' creator Hey Jini and a former employee, A, following claims that A suffered panic disorder and depression after working up to 16 hours a day. While A's industrial accident was recognized in 2020, the two sides offer conflicting accounts regarding the company's response to the application process.

A call recording between kids' creator Hey Jini (born Kang Hye-jin) and a former employee, referred to as A, has been released following claims that A suffered health deterioration due to long working hours and faced conflict with the company during an industrial accident application process. In a video released on June 27 on YouTuber Lee Jin-ho's YouTube channel, the recording captures a conversation where A asks about the contents of an opinion statement submitted by the company during the industrial accident application, to which Hey Jini responds. A has previously stated that they were diagnosed with panic disorder and depression due to excessive workload and that the industrial accident was eventually recognized. Conversely, Hey Jini's side maintains that, contrary to A's claims, there were no issues with wages or business operations, and that they did not obstruct the industrial accident application. The two sides offer conflicting accounts regarding the work environment and the process of applying for leave and industrial accident compensation.

A claims to have handled most tasks for the Chinese channel

In a post on an online community, A introduced themselves as a long-time friend of Hey Jini and a former employee. According to the original post, A joined the company in 2016 after receiving a proposal from Hey Jini to work together as a creator for a Chinese language channel. A claimed to have primarily handled the tasks necessary for channel operation and production alone. Other reports indicate that A was responsible for not only filming and editing but also writing and translating video scripts, dubbing, recruiting voice actors, and uploading content. It was also claimed that A managed selecting event winners, organizing information in Excel, contacting winners, sending out prizes, and handling post office duties.

A claimed to have worked up to 16 hours a day with an annual salary of 20 million won, facing continuous night shifts, weekend work, and holiday shifts. A explained that because there were no other employees capable of speaking Chinese, they had to handle the channel's production and operation alone, and that requests for additional personnel were denied. A stated that they worked without receiving overtime pay and that the heavy workload led to deteriorating health. The original post also mentioned that another former employee, B, left a post claiming a harsh working environment, though specific details regarding B's period of employment or specific duties were not provided.

In the released video, Lee Jin-ho reported that A appealed to Hey Jini's husband, who serves as a director at the company, regarding physical exhaustion and suspected heart issues, but was told that the company was having a harder time. According to the reports, A explained that in early 2018, they experienced symptoms such as cold sweats and difficulty applying strength to their body, and that the request for more staff was rejected. A claimed to have been rushed to the emergency room during a night shift in 2018, after which they were diagnosed with panic disorder and depression. The original post also mentions a diagnosis of social anxiety.

Process of leave and industrial accident application following emergency room visit

According to the original post, Lee Jin-ho explained that A was taken to the emergency room during a night shift in 2018 and subsequently diagnosed with panic disorder and depression. A stated that they went to the emergency room in November 2018 due to breathing difficulties and entered a period of leave in December of the same year following continued seizures at the company. A claimed to have informed the company of the intent to apply for an industrial accident, and believed the company when they offered to introduce a labor attorney. A also mentioned going on a trip during the leave period following a doctor's recommendation.

A claimed that after entering leave, Hey Jini proposed an option to receive 4 million won instead of filing for an industrial accident. A further stated that the company submitted documents suggesting it was difficult to acknowledge a connection between the work and the illness. Lee Jin-ho stated in the video that the conflict between A and the company deepened during the resignation process. A stated that after the industrial accident application process continued, the accident was recognized in 2020. According to reports, Lee Jin-ho stated that A received approximately 45 million won in compensation for medical expenses and leave pay; this figure is based on A's explanation cited in the reports, as the original post did not specify the compensation amount.

A claimed that while the company initially offered to help during the industrial accident application process, they later submitted documents that did not acknowledge the link between the work and the illness. The online community post explained that the trip taken during the leave was mentioned in the opinion statement. A stated the trip was taken upon a doctor's recommendation. In the call released in the original post, A asked Hey Jini if she had included a phrase expressing doubt about whether A was actually ill, citing the fact that she knew the doctor had said a trip would be helpful for treatment despite A traveling during the leave. Hey Jini replied, "Yes."

Questions in the recording and Hey Jini's answers

In the released call, A directly referenced the contents of the opinion statement submitted during the industrial accident application process. A asked, "Knowing that the doctor said traveling would be helpful for treatment, did you include the phrase expressing doubt about whether I was truly ill because I traveled during my leave?" Hey Jini answered, "Yes." The conversation released in the original post focused on this specific question and answer.

Reports also introduced a conversation from the call regarding the inquiry and response about health status. It was reported that A said their depression had worsened and they were being prescribed a lot of medication, and when Hey Jini asked if her words had caused the depression to worsen, A replied that they had. However, this part was not included in the recording released in the original post. The conversation confirmed in the original post is limited to A asking about the relationship between the trip and the wording of the opinion statement and Hey Jini's short response. Lee Jin-ho, who reported the release of the recording, explained that A has made claims regarding the work, the deterioration of health, and the industrial accident application process.

Person A claimed that although the company said it would help with the industrial accident claim, it subsequently submitted an opinion statement denying the connection between the work and the illness. The company drew a line against the allegation that it obstructed the industrial accident processing by submitting an opinion statement denying the connection between work and illness during the application process. The company stated that in late 2018, respecting Person A's opinion that they wanted to apply for industrial accident compensation, they introduced an external certified labor attorney and guided them through the application procedure.

Company Refutes Allegations Regarding Wages, Work Operations, and Obstruction of Industrial Accident Claim

Hey Jini's side took a different position from the working environment described by Person A. The company stated that there were no issues with the wage system at the time of joining nine years ago and that annual salaries were paid; contrary to what has since been revealed, they claimed they increased the annual salary by 25% and even paid separate bonuses during leaves of absence. They also explained that Person A's assigned duties and methods of proceeding were operated through consultation every time, and that they allowed for adjustments in working hours or the option to work from home depending on the situation. They claimed to have continuously requested that Person A reduce working hours or rest through vacations or leaves of absence if health issues arose, and even supported the rental deposit for housing near the company to reduce the burden of commuting.

Regarding the industrial accident application, the company also refuted Person A's claims. The company stated that it did not obstruct the industrial accident application and that after Person A expressed the intention to apply in late 2018, they introduced an external certified labor attorney for direct consultation and guided them through the procedure. A call recording was released containing an admission that they included phrasing in the opinion statement questioning whether Person A was actually ill, citing Person A's travels during their leave, alongside the company's explanation that they did not obstruct the industrial accident application. The original text also includes Lee Jin-ho's explanation that although the company said it would help with the industrial accident application, they proposed 4 million won after Person A went on leave. The company did not provide a separate explanation regarding the circumstances of that proposal in the original text.

The company also expressed its intention to converse with Person A directly or through a representative. The company stated, “If our colleague wishes, we will listen to them in whatever way is convenient, whether directly or through a representative, and if there is anything the company needs to do, we will discuss it actively. We will entirely respect our colleague's will regarding whether and how to converse.” There is no mention in the original text or reference reports that a date or additional procedures for subsequent dialogue between the two sides have been set. Following the recognition of the industrial accident by Person A, the company's rebuttal, and the release of the call recording, the positions of both sides remain divergent.

Read the original (Korean)