According to documents obtained by the Seoul Provincial Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, K-Pop girl group NewJeans received a payment of 240 million KRW (~ $172,000 USD) as honorary ambassadors of the city of Seoul. This is the highest amount ever received by any honorary ambassador of the city in history, and also more than half the combined amount received by 55 past ambassadors in the past 5 years (450 million KRW or ~ $322,000 USD).

Traditionally, honorary ambassadors of local provinces do not receive payments for their activities. The city of Seoul is the only exception, paying its honorary ambassadors due amounts while classifying them as nongovernmental workers. 

In fact, ordinance no. 6 of the regulations on the operation of Seoul's honorary ambassadors indicates that the role of honorary ambassador is a voluntary and gratuitous appointment. While the ordinance also permits expenditures for "necessary costs", the total amount received by NewJeans is currently facing criticism for surpassing any normal amount for "necessary costs". Instead, the payment is being interpreted more bluntly as the "cost of hiring NewJeans for promotional activities." 

Currently, 34 individuals from various professional fields are active as honorary ambassadors for the city of Seoul, including 29 whose activities are voluntary and unpaid. It's believed that other ambassadors from the entertainment industry typically received an average pay of 25 million KRW (~ $18,000 USD).

SEE ALSO: Man in his twenties sent to trial for breaking into NewJeans's old dorm