Kang Hyung-wook Speaks Out: "Attendance Criticism Was Based on Direct Observation... CCTV Not for Surveillance"

Appeared with wife on own YouTube channel
"Not installed for CCTV staff surveillance purposes"

Dog trainer Kang Hyeong-wook, who has been accused of monitoring his company employees with closed-circuit (CC) TV and using abusive language, has expressed his position regarding the controversy surrounding him.

On the 24th, Kang uploaded a video titled "Sorry for the delay" on his YouTube channel 'Kang Hyeong-wook's Bodeum TV.' Kang appeared in the video alongside his wife, Susan Ye-hee Elder, who works with him. In the 55-minute and 16-second video, he first apologized, saying, "Before verifying the facts, I am truly sorry for causing a stir with such news and delivering unpleasant information." He continued, "I am someone who should be talking more about living well with companion dogs, but I am deeply sorry for showing a bad image due to my inappropriate actions."

Recently, dog trainer Kang Hyung-wook, who has been suspected of abuse and closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance, addressed various allegations through his YouTube channel. [Image source=YouTube 'Kang Hyung-wook's Bodeum TV' capture]

Regarding the CCTV monitoring allegations, Kang firmly stated, "It is not for surveillance purposes." He explained, "Since it is a place where people are present and supplies are kept, anyone can come in at any time, and our dogs as well as our trainers' dogs have been there, so CCTV was necessary." He added, "Without CCTV, it would be more unsettling. There could be theft, and outsiders might enter. Since training consultations were held in the office, dogs could bite us, and unexpected incidents could occur. To verify and confirm facts, CCTV is indispensable."

Kang said, "The reason those people felt 'uncomfortable' was that CCTV should have been installed when the office was opened, but we were unaware of that. We felt the need for CCTV during work, and when we tried to install it, the employees questioned, 'Is this for monitoring us?'" He added, "Kang's side consulted a lawyer about the legality of installing CCTV in the office and received a response that it was not illegal, which was then communicated to the employees."

Regarding the allegation that work attitudes were criticized based on CCTV footage, Kang clarified, "It was not based on watching CCTV." He explained, "It was not surveillance but direct observation that led to the feedback." Kang and his wife said that the employee was almost lying down with their neck supported by the chair while editing videos, and "Since many outsiders come and other employees are watching, I thought it was right to address such work behavior." They added, "That employee was quite stressed about the CCTV, saying 'the CCTV is monitoring me,' so we showed them that it was not the case."

He also explained the part about giving spam wrapped in dog waste bags as holiday gifts. Kang said, "Since the employees liked spam, I tried to buy gift sets, but due to an ordering mistake, a bundle sold at the supermarket arrived." He added, "I told the employees, 'Please share and take it yourselves,' and during the process of employees taking the gifts themselves, dog waste bags were used."

Finally, Kang said, "I am sincerely sorry for showing my face with uncomfortable news." He added, "I may not have been a good representative, even if I was a good trainer. Regarding what happened as a representative, I want to explain and sincerely apologize if there are any grievances. If I must be punished, I will accept it willingly." However, he also said, "I want to ask those who are making baseless slanders about the place where I worked hard with wonderful employees to stop. If necessary to protect them, I plan to take legal action."

The allegations against Kang began on the 18th when reviews left by former employees of Bodeum Company were made public on Job Planet. The controversy escalated after JTBC's 'Incident Room' reported on the 21st the information provided by a former employee A of Bodeum Company. A revealed that although there were six employees at Bodeum Company, there were nine cameras, three of which filmed the employees' monitors. A also claimed that Kang and his wife used paid messenger functions to read employees' conversations and engaged in power harassment and verbal abuse.

On the 23rd, another person claiming to be a former employee of Bodeum Company refuted the allegations in the comments. This netizen B, revealing their real name, wrote, "The representative and his wife always prioritized us and provided the best treatment in the industry regarding salary and welfare. I resigned due to personal health issues, but I still feel very grateful to both of them."

Another netizen C, who said they worked with Kang until recently, also said, "The contents that have come out so far are baseless witch hunts," adding, "Representative Kang is running a business under his own name, so he has to be stricter with employees." They continued, "Who would like employees who slack off and do not work? Should we overlook and laugh off such things just because he is a public figure? Stop playing the victim. I hope the whistleblowers put their hands on their hearts and think about whether they worked properly," delivering a sharp rebuke to the informants.