Davichi's Kang Min-kyung Shopping Mall 'Passion Pay' Controversy
Offering Minimum Wage Level Salary for Experienced Hires
"Staff Mistake... Will Decide After Interview" Explanation
Kang Min-kyung of the celebrity duo girl group Davichi is facing controversy over her clothing shopping mall being accused of 'passion pay.' The issue arose because the company set strict requirements while offering a wage at the minimum wage level when recruiting an experienced Customer Service (CS) staff member. As the controversy intensified, Kang Min-kyung explained that it was a "staff error."
Recently, the clothing shopping mall 'Abiemua' posted a job announcement for a CS staff position. The position was a three-month contract with the possibility of becoming a full-time employee, requiring a college degree and 3 to 7 years of experience.
The duties included overall customer service, consultations via phone, bulletin boards, messengers, and email, collecting order forms, communicating with the logistics center regarding shipments and returns, gathering operational policy plans through customer inquiry analysis, and responding to overseas customers in English via email. Candidates needed to be proficient in using an online integrated management program, have communication skills, and possess intermediate or higher Excel skills, among other abilities.
The problem was the annual salary. 'Abiemua' offered an annual salary of 25 million KRW. Considering the 2023 minimum hourly wage of 9,620 KRW, such conditions for hiring experienced staff were criticized as 'passion pay.'
As the controversy grew, CEO Kang Min-kyung revised the 25 million KRW annual salary in the job posting to 'to be decided after the interview.' She explained, "Due to a staff error, the CS job posting listed the salary for new hires. 'Abiemua' conducts hiring by considering applicants' experience and previous salaries."
A job posting for experienced positions uploaded by the shopping mall 'Abiemua,' represented by Kang Min-kyung Photo by Saramin capture
Despite the explanation, criticism did not subside. Some netizens sarcastically pointed out that Kang Min-kyung had recently boasted on YouTube about a gas stove worth 27 million KRW, mocking that "the salary is cheaper than the gas stove."
As the controversy escalated, Kang Min-kyung posted a statement on her Instagram, saying, "I am writing as the CEO of 'Abiemua.'" She stated, "We mistakenly posted a CS experienced staff recruitment announcement with the salary for inexperienced, non-degree, and non-major new hires. This error was corrected immediately upon confirmation."
She continued, "For experienced staff, negotiations are always based on the previous salary. For inexperienced, non-degree, and non-major new applicants, the starting salary is based on the minimum wage, with annual salary negotiations conducted every year."
She added, "'Abiemua' is still a growing brand, and I feel heavy-hearted that we cannot negotiate higher salaries for new applicants. We will continue to strive to share achievements with employees as the company grows and work to create a better environment."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
