New Book 'The Moment Questions Become Answers' Event
Consultation for Public Corporation Job Seekers Planned
"What Expertise Do You Have?" Job Seekers' Backlash
Broadcaster Kim Je-dong promoting the new book 'The Moment When Questions Become Answers' / Photo by YouTube channel 'Kim Je-dong imnida' capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] An online counseling program planned to be conducted for public enterprise job seekers (job seekers) with broadcaster Kim Jae-dong as a mentor has faced strong backlash. Job seekers criticized whether Kim Jae-dong, who has no experience in preparing for public enterprise employment or related job experience, is qualified to provide counseling.
According to the Naver cafe 'Gongjunmo (Gathering of People Preparing for Public Enterprises)' on the 16th, the publisher 'Munhakdongne' posted on this cafe on the 10th announcing plans to hold 'Kim Jae-dong's Online Counseling Room.'
The Online Counseling Room is an event commemorating Munhakdongne's new book, 'The Moment When Questions Become Answers.' Kim Jae-dong, one of the co-authors of this book, was scheduled to listen to and counsel job seekers' concerns directly through Zoom video lectures.
However, job seekers who saw the announcement reacted strongly, saying, "What qualifications does Kim Jae-dong have to provide employment counseling?" They pointed out whether a person with no experience preparing for public enterprise employment and no significant related job experience has the 'expertise' to offer advice to job seekers.
One job seeker said, "In a world where it is already hard to get a job, if you want to call comforting with empty words counseling, it would be better not to do it at all," and criticized, "Isn't Kim Jae-dong someone who has never prepared for public enterprise employment?"
Another job seeker criticized, "Does he even understand the employment process? Does he know how hard job seekers struggle?" and said, "I don't see the meaning of receiving counseling from someone with no experience at all."
As the controversy grew, the cafe posted an announcement explaining, "This event is held for complex reasons, not just to advertise the new book," and added, "We respect both members who support and oppose Kim Jae-dong. As a neutral community not leaning toward any ideology, the counseling will end after one session, and there will be no second session."
Kim Je-dong gained sympathy from job seekers when he appeared on a talk show in 2016 and passionately stated, "Create a society where getting a job is easy," addressing the youth employment crisis. / Photo by JTBC
Kim Jae-dong gained popularity among young people as a host of the SBS entertainment program 'Healing Camp' in the past. In 2016, during a talk show appearance, he resonated with job seekers by saying, "Please stop asking young people why they don't get jobs. Either create a society where people over twenty can get jobs quickly."
However, in 2019, controversy arose over his 'high-fee lectures' after it was revealed that he received appearance fees of around 15 million won per session for attending local government lectures and events. At that time, some netizens criticized him, saying, "I thought he was an enlightened person, but was he hypocritical?" and "If this is not selective anger, then what is?"
Meanwhile, Kim Jae-dong resumed external activities by publishing 'The Moment When Questions Become Answers' in March. This book is a popular science book in which Kim Jae-dong interviews seven experts and discusses various topics such as urban design, quantum physics, and basic income.
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