Comedian Jang Dong-min’s comments about 20s–30s employment have gone viral and ignited a fierce debate online — and now his own company’s hiring practices are under fire, escalating the controversy.
The remarks came on the May 1 episode of Wavve’s variety show Betting on Fact. While discussing the topic of “Korean men in their 20s and 30s choosing Japan over jobs and marriage,” Jang flatly declared, “Saying you can’t get a job doesn’t make sense.” He added, “Even when we post openings, almost no one applies. Most of the resumes we receive are from people in their 40s and 50s,” claiming that “it’s hard to find applicants in their 20s and 30s.” He then said, “Isn’t it that they just don’t want to work? Work is supposed to be hard,” criticizing young people’s attitudes toward employment.
After the broadcast, the clip spread rapidly via short-form videos, drawing thousands of comments. Some agreed, saying “many workplaces are genuinely short-staffed,” while others pushed back: “If there are no applicants, maybe the job conditions need a hard look.”
As the debate intensified, job postings from Blue Sky — the startup where Jang serves as CEO — began circulating in online communities, adding fuel to the fire. According to the public listings, the company is a small business focused on automation equipment, and most of its past recruitment appears to have targeted experienced hires.
Listings on major job platforms show that roles like management/business/marketing planning require 5+ years of experience, and packaging automation equipment design requires 3+ years — in short, applicants who can start immediately. Despite dozens of recruitment rounds, commenters pointed out there are no verified examples of entry-level hiring, further stoking backlash.
Reactions remain split online. Critics argue, “He tells young people to lower their expectations, but his own company only hires experienced workers,” while others counter that “given startup realities, preferring talent who can hit the ground running is a practical choice.”
Observers note this controversy exposes the wider gap between structural youth employment challenges and how companies actually hire — beyond one celebrity’s hot take. Whether Jang’s comments are a clear-eyed diagnosis or a misread of reality is still up for debate, and the discourse shows no sign of cooling anytime soon.