Kids creator Hey Jini speaks after being appointed as a children's environmental health ambassador in 2022. [Newsis]
Kids creator Hey Jini speaks after being appointed as a children's environmental health ambassador in 2022. [Newsis]

Kids creator Hey Jini, whose real name is Kang Hye-jin, has issued a second rebuttal following a former employee's allegations of labor exploitation.

On Tuesday, Hey Jini posted on Instagram: "I would love to be remembered as a good person by everyone, but sometimes, for various reasons, that is not possible." She added, "Even so, I know there are people who have stayed by my side and watched over me, flaws and all, to the very end."

She then wrote that close acquaintances, many young fans and their parents, and members of her fandom — known as Hyechung — had felt her pain on her behalf and were more upset than she was. "I feel heavy-hearted and deeply sorry for causing you worry," she said.

Regarding former employee A, she said it was "deeply regrettable and heartbreaking" to be confronted this way, eight years later, by someone she had once worked alongside. "I want to believe that not every moment we shared together was difficult," she wrote. "I sincerely hope that person recovers their health and finds peace in their daily life."

She said she would repay her supporters "with the same joyful, ordinary everyday life" she had always shown, signaling her intention to continue her activities.

Through an official statement from Kidsworks, Hey Jini said the company had "refrained from responding publicly out of careful consideration for the colleague's health and stability," but added that "false information is being amplified and reproduced, causing serious damage to the reputation of both the company and the individual." The statement then disclosed specific details.

Kidsworks said employee A's annual salary rose twice within roughly a year — from 20 million won ($14,900) in September 2017 to 21 million won in January 2018, and then to 25 million won in November of that year. The company said the salary under the employment contract represented a 25 percent increase from the time of hiring, and that meal allowances and bonuses were paid separately on top of the base salary.

On the discrepancy with the withholding tax receipt that A had released earlier, the company said the difference was "because periods of leave were reflected." It said it would not release the employment contract as it contains personal information, but added that it would do so "if unavoidable due to speculation and false claims."

The company also said it "respected the colleague's application for workers' compensation and did not obstruct the process in any way." It said the insurer's opinion statement and factual confirmation it submitted to the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service were "prepared faithfully with all facts known to us, in accordance with the review procedures."

However, the company said it "clearly holds a different view from the claims the colleague raised after the fact," explaining that it had "consistently asked that excessive work harmful to one's health be avoided."

On working conditions, the company said it "did not compel any work" and that once health difficulties were confirmed, it "repeatedly asked that work be paused temporarily or adjusted through vacation or leave."

Kidsworks said it is "currently reorganizing its management systems with advice from a certified labor attorney" and that "some areas requiring improvement in software use were identified." It added that all software is now used with legitimate licenses in compliance with copyright law.

The company warned it would "have no choice but to take civil and criminal legal action" if additional harm arose from the spread of false information or personal attacks on individuals unrelated to the matter.

Earlier, A appeared in a video published Thursday on the YouTube channel "Respect Lee Jin-ho," claiming the salary had risen only 5 percent — from 20 million won to 21 million won. A also claimed that when seizure-like symptoms recurred at work, Hey Jini suggested unpaid leave, saying it "did not look good in front of other employees," and that ahead of filing a workers' compensation claim, A received an offer of 4 million won to drop the claim.

Kidsworks' statement did not separately address the circumstances surrounding the unpaid leave or the allegation of the 4 million won offer.


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