NewJeans Named The Highest-Paid Honorary Ambassadors Of Seoul

According to reports on November 7, KST, NewJeans are the highest-paid honorary ambassadors of the city of Seoul.

According to data obtained by the Seoul Provincial Assembly’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee, NewJeans received ₩240 million KRW (about $171,000 USD) for their fee as the honorary ambassadors of Seoul city, the highest fee ever received by anyone for this role.

NewJeans’ fee was more than half of the ₩450 million KRW (about $321,000 USD) paid to 55 people appointed as Seoul city’s public relations ambassadors in the past five years.

Traditionally, public relations ambassadors of local governments do not receive any payments for their activities, as these positions are considered to be honorary, with Seoul city being an exception. The Seoul government compensates its ambassadors and classifies them as non-governmental workers.

Interestingly, Article 6 of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Public Relations Ambassador Operation Ordinance clearly states that public relations ambassadors are unpaid, honorary positions. However, it also allows the ambassadors to receive “necessary expenses” like traveling costs, etc., for the role. The amount paid to NewJeans, however, has invited criticism as it far exceeds the threshold of necessary expenses. Councilwoman Kim Hye Young pointed out that it should be viewed as compensation received by the group for their promotional activities.

Currently, there are 34 honorary ambassadors for Seoul city, including singers, actors, and broadcasters. 29 of them have worked without compensation for the role. Apart from NewJeans, a designer who is also working as an honorary ambassador reportedly received ₩40.0 million KRW (about $28,500 USD) from Seoul city. Another ambassador, a broadcaster, received ₩25.0 million KRW (about $17,800 USD).

Meanwhile, NewJeans were appointed the honorary ambassadors of Seoul last year, along with a popular YouTube creator and a TikTok influencer. Since then, the group has participated in multiple events related to Seoul city, including the Seoul Fashion Week.