Black Paper, a content production company co-founded by television personality and former comedy writer Yoo Byung-jae, has been swept up in a "passion pay" controversy over its recent intern recruitment notice.
The company is facing criticism after it was revealed that they are seeking a Project Manager (PM) intern under a six-month contract while demanding a workload that essentially requires the expertise of an experienced professional.
Recently, the PM intern job posting published by Black Paper spread rapidly across online communities and social media, sparking intense debate.
According to the posting, the role's responsibilities include planning and managing creator content, variety shows, and YouTube content, establishing artist brand strategies, and handling tasks related to intellectual property (IP) business. Additionally, preferred qualifications listed were an understanding of content trends, proficiency in image and video editing tools, experience managing social media channels, and prior content creation experience.
However, the employment type was specified as a six-month, full-time internship with no option for transition to a permanent position, drawing backlash. Critics pointed out that the scope of work and required skills for the PM role were far too demanding for an internship, with many questioning, "Aren't they essentially asking for experienced-level work?"
The controversy has drawn even more attention due to Yoo Byung-jae's background and public image. Having started as a comedy writer and endured a long period of obscurity before rising to fame as an entertainer and creator, Yoo has built his career on content that deeply resonates with the struggles and realities of the younger generation. Consequently, some netizens expressed disappointment, commenting, "Isn't he someone who should understand the harsh realities faced by job seekers and young professionals entering the workforce?"
As the backlash grew, Black Paper's CEO Yoo Kyu-sun stated in an interview with a media outlet, "It seems the posting was written in a way that could cause misunderstandings," and announced plans to revise or take down the notice. Black Paper has since reportedly deleted the job posting.
Meanwhile, Black Paper is a creative artist management and content production company co-founded in 2022 by Yoo Byung-jae, his former manager and current CEO Yoo Kyu-sun, and director Lee Eon-joo. The agency represents Yoo Byung-jae, Jonathan, Lee Eun-ji, and Patricia. The company recently made headlines after revealing on a broadcast that, within just three years of its founding, it had grown to a team of 35 employees and achieved 10 billion KRW in annual sales.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)