Daesung Sparks Debate Over Controversial Comment on Staff Wages and Working Hours
On February 28, Daesung invited BLACKPINK’s Lisa to his YouTube channel “ZIP Daesung,” where they had a conversation.
During their chat, Lisa took a break to adjust her hair and makeup. Watching her idly, Daesung remained still, prompting Lisa to ask, “Aren’t you getting a touch-up too?”
Daesung responded, “The person who does my touch-ups has already left work.” When Lisa asked if they had left on time, he explained, “They finish work but stay nearby, run some errands, and then come back freely.”
He then added, “But I only pay for the time they’re here. If they go somewhere else, I don’t pay for that time.” Lisa laughed and said, “That’s not bad. I don’t need any touch-ups either, so they can just leave,” playfully going along with Daesung’s approach.
Daesung further commented, “As a CEO, you start thinking about things like this. You end up spending a lot more money in unexpected places.”
Although the conversation was lighthearted, his remarks sparked debate online. Some criticized him, saying, “So he doesn’t officially dismiss the makeup staff but keeps them on standby without pay? That’s outrageous.” “This is a well-known labor rights violation called ‘wage shaving’ (kkeokgi).” “Either Daesung’s entire YouTube production team violates labor laws regularly, or they’re being subjected to labor violations themselves.” “This is just wage exploitation.”
Others defended him, arguing, “It was obviously a joke.” “People are overreacting to a lighthearted remark.” “Criticizing him without knowing the terms of the contract is unfair.” “This is just nitpicking over nothing.”
The term “wage shaving” refers to arbitrarily adjusting employees’ working hours or reducing their recorded work time to pay them less. Labor laws require employers to provide at least 70% of an employee’s usual wages for downtime caused by the employer.
Some argue that even as a joke, using labor law loopholes as comedic material is inappropriate.
This controversy highlights the ongoing debate over labor rights in the entertainment industry and the fine line between humor and ethical workplace practices.
