Travel YouTuber Wonji (37, Lee Wonji) has issued an apology following criticism over inadequate working conditions for her employees.
On the 20th, Wonji addressed the issue on her YouTube channel, stating, "I sincerely apologize for any discomfort caused by the '6-Pyeong Office Found' video uploaded today regarding the office environment."
Earlier, Wonji had introduced her office on her YouTube channel 'Wonji's Day.' The office, located on the second basement floor, was a cramped 6-pyeong space without windows, where three employees were expected to work. This sparked controversy as viewers expressed concerns, saying, "It feels suffocating to work in such a space," "Isn't this a chicken coop?" and "The conditions are too poor."
In response, Wonji explained, "The building houses various businesses such as offices, beauty shops, restaurants, and retail facilities, and is designed with a ventilation system that circulates air throughout the building. Therefore, I believed the lack of windows wouldn't pose a significant issue. Considering these factors, I decided to lease the space as my first office."
In her apology, Wonji acknowledged, "It seems the video's portrayal of the building's ventilation system and structure may not have fully conveyed the actual environment, leading to misunderstandings. To prevent any inconvenience or misunderstanding for others using the same building, I have decided to make the video private."
Wonji added, "As this is my first office, there are many areas where I am inexperienced and lacking. I will actively consider the feedback provided and strive to show improvement in the future."
Wonji has a subscriber base of 1.02 million and has been active as a travel YouTuber since 2016. She appeared alongside KwakTube and PaniBottle in ENA's 'Earth Marble World Travel' Seasons 1 and 2. In January, she made a surprise marriage announcement.