"If You Get a Job, I'll Take a Photo With You": Chef Kang Leo Rebukes Young People Who Traveled to Japan on Unemployment Benefits

Recounts turning down a request for a photo
Offers blunt remarks on youth employment woes

Chef Kang Leo has drawn attention after sharing an anecdote about turning down a photo request from young people who said they had come to Japan on unemployment benefits. His remarks have also attracted interest amid reports of a rise in cases of people fraudulently claiming unemployment benefits while staying overseas.

Recently, Chef Kang appeared on the YouTube channel "Human Story" and recounted an experience from a past trip to Japan. "I went to Japan once, and there were some young guys next to me who had come to have fun on unemployment benefits. They were saying things like, 'How much did you get? I heard you can get more,' and it made me angry," he said. He continued, "Later, they asked, 'Chef, could we take a photo with you?' So I said, 'I'll take one if you get a job.' They'd gone on a trip with taxpayers' money. That made me even angrier," he said, describing what happened at the time.

Chef Kang Leo shared an anecdote about turning down photo requests from young people who said they were visiting Japan on unemployment benefits. YouTube channel "Human Story"

He also offered blunt criticism of the employment challenges facing young people. "Everyone says things are tough and there are no opportunities these days, but why do you say there's nothing to do?" Chef Kang said. "Go to a gamjatang restaurant. There is so much work to do. If you can't find a job, come here and work. What job is easy?" he said. As his remarks gained attention, the purpose of the unemployment benefit system and the problem of fraudulent claims also came back into focus.

More cases of fraudulent unemployment benefit claims by people staying overseas

Unemployment benefits are intended to help employees enrolled in employment insurance support themselves while preparing to return to work after involuntary job loss. However, traveling overseas while receiving unemployment benefits does not, by itself, constitute fraud. Whether a person actually engaged in job-seeking activities and complied with the unemployment certification process must be considered in combination with other factors.

In fact, cases of fraud, such as falsely applying for unemployment certification while staying overseas, are on the rise. According to data submitted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor to Kim Wi-sang of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, 20,832 unemployment benefit recipients had records of staying overseas on their certification dates last year, down 11.0% from 23,405 the previous year. By contrast, the number of people caught fraudulently claiming benefits while overseas rose 57.0%, from 1,359 in 2024 to 2,134 last year.

In the first half of this year, records showed that 11,332 unemployment benefit recipients were overseas on their designated unemployment benefits certification dates. Of these, 695 were caught receiving benefits fraudulently. The Asia Business Daily

In the first half of this year, records showed that 11,332 recipients had been overseas on their certification dates, and 695 of them were caught making fraudulent claims. Typical examples include asking family members or acquaintances in Korea to submit online unemployment certification applications on their behalf while they are overseas, or falsely reporting job-seeking activities they did not actually carry out. The Daejeon Regional Employment and Labor Office caught 111 people who had fraudulently received unemployment benefits while overseas in the first half of last year. The total amount of benefits they fraudulently received came to KRW 182 million.

Repeated unemployment benefit claims also under scrutiny

The issue of repeated unemployment benefit claims has also continued to draw attention. According to data submitted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor to the office of Kim So-hee of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, 113,000 people received unemployment benefits at least three times within the past five years last year. The total benefits paid to them amounted to KRW 599.754 billion, or an average of about KRW 5.3 million per person.

As of July this year, 77,000 people had received unemployment benefits three or more times. The Ministry of Employment and Labor is investigating fraudulent claims, including applications made on behalf of claimants while they are overseas and false reports of job-seeking activities. If fraud is confirmed, authorities may require repayment of benefits, impose additional charges, and pursue criminal penalties.

The Asia Business Daily

By July this year, the number of people who had received unemployment benefits three or more times had reached 77,000. The Ministry of Employment and Labor is investigating fraudulent claims, including applications submitted by proxies while recipients are overseas and false reports of job-seeking activities. If fraud is confirmed, the ministry may require repayment of the benefits, impose additional charges, and pursue criminal penalties. Repeated claims are not illegal in themselves. Therefore, employees who have repeatedly lost and regained jobs, for example because their contracts expired, may lawfully receive benefits if they meet the statutory eligibility requirements.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.