@Julien ***

yes, I supplied the salary slips and they still wanted permission from my HR. It wasn't the income that was the issue when I applied. It was very odd

They want proof of payment for your muay thai classes

On your application for soft power, did you write down you're employed?

I applied in singapore for soft power (cooking), wrote down my employment details and then the embassy requested a letter from my HR that they give me permission to attend the cooking course. It baffled me and my HR team, but they wrote me a letter, literally stating "we give x permission to attend x cooking school". I submitted the documents and I think they were happy with it as they told me to come into the embassy to pay (this was last year when walk in was still a thing). I didn't end up going through with it as my plans changed.

A few months later, I reapplied in vietnam and wrote "unemployed" this time on my application. Approved without further questions