Chef Kang Leo. [Yoon Byung-chan]
Chef Kang Leo. [Yoon Byung-chan]

Amid growing controversy over people collecting unemployment benefits while traveling abroad or without genuinely seeking work, an anecdote from celebrity chef Kang Leo about refusing a photo request from young benefit recipients overseas has resurfaced and drawn fresh attention.

Kang made the remarks Sept. 23 on the YouTube channel "Human Story."

"I was in Japan once, and there were these young guys next to me saying they'd come to play on unemployment benefits — talking about how much they got and how they could get more. It made my blood boil," he said. "Then later they came up and said, 'Oh, Chef, can you take a photo with us?' I told them, 'I'll take one when you get a job.' They were out there having fun on taxpayer money, and I was furious."

Kang recounted the story with a laugh, but he also offered pointed criticism of young people who travel on unemployment benefits.

"They say things are hard, that there's no path forward — but why is there nothing to do? There's so much work out there," he said. "Go to a gamjatang restaurant. If there are no jobs, go there and ask to work. Nothing comes easy."

Unemployment benefits are designed to ease the financial burden on insured workers who lose their jobs while they prepare to find new employment. Recipients must report their unemployment status and job-seeking activities on designated certification dates to continue receiving payments. Benefits are not automatically paid simply because a person is out of work — recipients must confirm they meet eligibility requirements and are actively pursuing reemployment.

The system has come under scrutiny, however, as cases emerge of people collecting benefits while traveling abroad or without genuinely looking for work.

According to data People Power Party lawmaker Kim Wi-sang obtained from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the number of benefit recipients caught committing fraud while abroad jumped 57 percent in a single year last year.

The number of unemployment benefit recipients found to have been overseas on their designated certification dates last year stood at 20,832, down 11.0 percent from 23,405 in 2024.

At the same time, the number of people caught fraudulently collecting benefits while abroad rose 57.0 percent, from 1,359 to 2,134.

"The Ministry of Employment and Labor has been monitoring this issue since 2023, yet fraud detections have actually increased — which means oversight is not working properly," Kim said. "We need to strengthen checks on recipients staying abroad and step up measures to prevent fraud, so that unemployment benefits reach those who truly need them."

Kang rose to prominence in the early 2010s as a judge on Olive Channel's "MasterChef Korea," after working at renowned restaurants in London, including Gordon Ramsay's, in the 2000s.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com