From driving for managers to $9,000 salaries, stars’ kindness draws attention in Korea
From left, Park Myung-soo, Park Na-rae, and Heebab / Xportsnews
As allegations surrounding comedian Park Na-rae’s treatment of her managers continue to dominate headlines, a contrasting narrative is gaining renewed attention online: celebrities known for generosity and humane treatment toward their staff.
With former managers of Park stepping forward to raise claims of mistreatment, public debate has expanded beyond the individual case to a broader discussion about working conditions for managers in the entertainment industry. Against this backdrop, past stories highlighting stars who went out of their way to care for their managers are resurfacing on online communities and social media.
Park Myung-soo / Xportsnews
One widely shared example involves veteran entertainer Park Myung-soo. In 2023, his manager, identified as A, shared a personal anecdote on social media recalling a long-distance work trip to Yeosu. According to the post, Park offered to take the wheel himself so the manager could rest in the back seat. A wrote that Park personally drove more than 300 kilometers of a round trip exceeding 730 kilometers, adding jokingly, “We’re heading to Jangheung, South Jeolla Province, again this Saturday — you’ll help me drive, right?” The story was widely praised for showing respect and consideration rarely associated with celebrity-manager hierarchies.
Broadcaster Jang Young-ran’s approach to management has also been revisited. She previously revealed on MBC’s reality show “The Manager” that she chose to reduce her own contract fee in order to raise her managers’ salaries. The program also showed her maintaining close, almost familial relationships even with managers who had already left her team, underscoring long-term trust built over years of working together.
Heebab, right, and her manager / Captured from KBS2TV
Food-focused YouTuber and TV personality Heebab is another name frequently mentioned in the renewed discussion. During an appearance on KBS2’s variety show “Boss in the Mirror,” she disclosed details about her managers’ pay. According to the broadcast, long-serving staff members earned up to 12 million won ($9,000) per month before tax, while entry-level employees reportedly received more than 5 million won monthly — figures that surprised many viewers.
Online reactions to these stories have been overwhelmingly positive. Netizens left comments such as “That shows real character,” “Please hire me,” “That’s someone I’d want to work for,” and “Financial respect really is the best kind of care.”
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.