"2 Million Won a Month! What Do You Mean 'Unpaid'?"... Bae Hyun-jin Again Targets JYP's Expenses

People Power Party Lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin has criticized singer Park Jin-young, who serves as co-chair of the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, over his remarks claiming he works "without pay."

Bae, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, posted on her social media account under the title "Words That Didn't Need to Be Said, Words I Don't Know Why Were Said," stating, "I confirmed through government budget disbursement records that Co-chair Park is receiving monthly expenses, overseas travel expenses, and even staff support, rather than engaging in 'unpaid volunteer work.'"

According to budget execution data Bae obtained from the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, Park has received approximately 2 million won every month in position-related operating expenses since November of last year, and separately received and used a corporate credit card for business operations.

To date, the position-related operating expenses paid to Co-chair Park are known to exceed 20 million won.

In addition, overseas travel expenses and accompanying personnel were provided for his four overseas trips made since taking office.

Appearing on the MBC variety show "The Manager" in August, Park addressed his role as co-chair of the committee, saying, "If you serve full-time, you get paid and receive a lot, but I can't do that," adding that he serves part-time and does not receive an annual salary.

Bae pointed out, "I do not know whether there is confusion between holding the ministerial-level position of committee chair and being an entertainer whose image is vital, but the head of an agency that spends the state budget should not tell the public things that are not true."

In another post, Bae argued, "A monthly position-related operating expense is an official duty allowance, effectively a salary," adding, "It is money that would have no reason to be paid if he were not the committee chair. Did he think it was 'unpaid service' just because it is small compared to appearance fees for celebrities?"

In relation to this, on September 29, the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee adopted Park as a witness for the parliamentary audit.

Lee Jae-jung, chair of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, said, "Co-chair Park conveyed his intention to 'attend directly as a witness, not merely as a reference witness, to give a full explanation to the public,'" and stated that Park is scheduled to appear at the committee's parliamentary audit on September 7.

(Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.