According to data on remuneration for Seoul City public relations ambassadors over the past five years obtained by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee of the Seoul Provincial Assembly, K-pop girl group NewJeans received 240 million won as honorary ambassadors of Seoul City. Each member received an average of nearly 50 million won.
The amount is more than half of the total 450 million won paid to 55 people appointed as public relations ambassadors for Seoul over the past five years, and is the highest salary any individual has received.
NewJeans (5 members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, Hyein) was appointed as public relations ambassadors for Seoul City early last year along with YouTuber Shuka World and TikToker On Oppa. Since then, the group has appeared at Seoul city events, such as participating in Seoul Fashion Week.
Of the 55 Seoul city ambassadors who have been appointed, 29 worked without pay and 23 received at least one payment.
Traditionally, honorary ambassadors from local provinces do not receive payments for their activities. Seoul City is the only exception, paying honorary ambassadors while classifying them as non-governmental workers.
In fact, Article 6 of the Seoul Honorary Ambassador Regulations states that the role of honorary ambassadors is voluntary and unpaid. But they will receive “necessary expenses” as prescribed.
The amount NewJeans received is now facing controversy because it exceeds any amount ever paid for the ambassadors' "necessary expenses." Instead, the payment is being more straightforwardly described as "the cost of hiring NewJeans for promotional activities."
Currently, 34 individuals from various professional fields are serving as honorary ambassadors for Seoul City, of which 29 are volunteers and unpaid.
It is believed that other ambassadors in the entertainment industry usually receive an average salary of 25 million won.
