2020 Korean YouTube backdoor advertising controversy: Difference between revisions

The '''2020 Korean YouTube backdoor advertising controversy''' refers to the practice of undisclosed or 'backdoor' advertising by Korean [[YouTube|YouTubers]]rs and [[Internet celebrity|internet celebrities]], involving the promotion of products without the disclosure of a [[Sponsor (commercial)|paid partnership]] with the suppliers of these products. The discovery of this practice led to widespread controversy and the eventual involvement of the South Korean [[Fair Trade Commission (South Korea)|Fair Trade Commission]], which imposed strict regulations on [[social media]] providers in a major crackdown. The incident also prompted calls for similar regulation in other countries, such as the United States and Japan.

On 15 July 2020, Dispatch, a Korean media organisation, reported that prominent Korean internet celebrities such as Han Hye-yeon (한혜연) and [[Kang Min-kyung|Kang Min-kyung (강민경)]] were involved in the process of undisclosed or 'backdoor' advertising, where products were promoted without the disclosure of a paid partnership.<ref>{{Cite web|lastlast1=기자김 |firstfirst1=김지호,지호 송수민|last2=송 |first2=수민|date=2020-07-15|title=[단독] "내돈내산? 남돈내산!"…강민경·한혜연, 유튜브 장사의 실체|trans-title=[Exclusive] "I gave my money and I bought it? Like I bought it with other money!"... Kang Min-kyung and Han Hye-yeon, the reality of YouTube business.|url=https://www.dispatch.co.kr/2091447|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722011214/https://www.dispatch.co.kr/2091447 |archive-date=2020-07-22 |access-date=2020-10-28|website=디스패치|language=korean}}</ref> Kang Min-kyung was revealed to have been promoting products worth tens of thousands of dollars in videos without revealing that these videos were sponsored.<ref>{{Cite web|last=기자한 |first=한상범상범|date=2020-08-19|title='대국민 사기극' 뒷광고의 세계|trans-title=The world of the back advertisement for “People"People's Scam”Scam"|url=http://www.ilyosisa.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=221177|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918104319/http://www.ilyosisa.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=221177 |archive-date=2020-09-18 |access-date=2020-09-28|website=일요시사|language=korean}}</ref> Both figures later publicly apologised for their actions<ref>{{Cite web|last=기자최 |first=최보란보란|date=2020-07-17|title=한혜연, 고개 숙여 사과 "혼란 드려 죄송...질타 마음에 새기겠다"(공식)|trans-title=Han Hye-yeon bows his head and apologizes "Sorry for the confusion... I'll keep it in mind for criticism" (Official)|url=https://www.ytn.co.kr/_sn/0117_202007171212292882|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917181304/https://www.ytn.co.kr/_sn/0117_202007171212292882 |archive-date=2020-09-17 |access-date=2020-09-29|website=[[YTN]]|language=korean}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=에디터|first=오기쁨|date=2020-07-17|title=강민경, PPL 논란 사과 {{!}} 보그 코리아 (Vogue Korea)|trans-title=Kang Min-kyung, PPL apologizes for controversy.|url=http://www.vogue.co.kr/2020/07/17/%ea%b0%95%eb%af%bc%ea%b2%bd-ppl-%eb%85%bc%eb%9e%80-%ec%82%ac%ea%b3%bc/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806092717/http://www.vogue.co.kr/2020/07/17/%EA%B0%95%EB%AF%BC%EA%B2%BD-ppl-%EB%85%BC%EB%9E%80-%EC%82%AC%EA%B3%BC/ |archive-date=2020-08-06 |access-date=2020-09-29|website=Vogue Korea|language=korean}}</ref> following major controversy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=기자고 |first=고재완재완|date=2020-07-16|title='내돈내산'의 역습…강민경X한혜연 PPL논란→비난으로 끝내선 안되는 이유|trans-title=Kang Min-kyung X Han Hye-yeon PPL controversy → The reason why criticism should not end|url=https://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=202007170100161160010864&servicedate=20200716|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101033925/https://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=202007170100161160010864&servicedate=20200716 |archive-date=2021-11-01 |access-date=2020-11-02|website=스포츠조선[[Sports Chosun]]|language=korean}}</ref>

Subsequently, prominent figures such as singer Kang Min-gyeong (강민경) and YouTuber 'Charm PD' (참피디) also revealed their involvement in this practice. The latter would also publicly reveal that several other prominent Korean YouTubers were similarly involved, which served to greatly increase the scale of the controversy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=기자김 |first=김민지민지|date=2020-08-08|title=유튜브 뒷광고가 도대체 뭐길래?|trans-title=What is the YouTube back ad?|url=http://biz.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20200808000017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810021824/http://biz.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20200808000017 |archive-date=2020-08-10 |access-date=2020-11-02|website=헤럴드경제|language=korean}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=기자김 |first=김현덕현덕|date=2020-07-21|title="참PD 입니다. 유튜버 광고 생태계에 대해 폭로하겠습니다"|trans-title=This is Charm PD. I will expose the YouTube advertising system.|url=https://www.wikitree.co.kr/articles/554223|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-28|website=위키트리 {{!}} 세상을 깨우는 재미진 목소리|language=korean}}</ref>

YouTubers such as [[mukbang]] food reviewers Tzuyang (쯔양), Embro (엠브로), Moon Bok-hee (문복희), and Hamji (햄지) publicly apologised for their actions by admitting to their use of undisclosed advertising.<ref>{{Cite web|last=기자김 |first=김자아자아|date=2020-08-05|title=참피디 '뒷광고 폭로'에…수백만 유튜버들 줄줄이 '사과'|trans-title=Charm PD's 'back advertisement exposure'... Millions of YouTubers line up'Apologized'|url=https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2020080514151393611|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809093819/https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2020080514151393611 |archive-date=2020-08-09 |access-date=2020-09-29|website=머니투데이Money Today|language=korean}}</ref> However, this failed to improve public opinion, and led to significant losses in popularity among those involved,<ref>{{Cite web|last=기자정 |first=정지원지원|date=5 August 2020|title="믿을 놈 하나 없네" 문복희,나름,쯔양,상윤쓰, 뒷광고 논란에 '여론 철퇴'|trans-title="There is no one to believe" 'criticism of public opinion' in controversy behind advertisement|url=http://www.joynews24.com/view/1287917|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027054823/http://www.joynews24.com/view/1287917 |archive-date=2020-10-27 |access-date=2020-09-29|website=joynews24|language=korean}}</ref> with one YouTuber losing 96% of their viewership in a month.<ref>{{Cite web|last=기자노 |first=노윤주윤주|date=|title=구독자·조회수 급락한 유튜버들…9월부터 뒷광고 사라질까?|trans-title=YouTubers who have plunged in subscribers and views... Will back advertisements disappear from September?|url=https://decenter.kr/NewsView/1Z6Q9ZT0OP|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-29|website=Decenter|language=korean}}</ref> Some YouTubers stopped uploading videos altogether, and announced their retirement from YouTube as a result of the controversy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=기자성 |first=성소의소의|date=14 August 2020|title=꺼지지 않는 '뒷광고' 논란... 업계 떠나는 유튜버들|trans-title=Controversy about'back advertisement' that never ends... YouTubers leaving the industry|url=http://www.polinews.co.kr/news/article.html?no=471842|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-11-04|website=폴리뉴스|language=korean}}</ref>

The growing scale of the controversy led to the official involvement of the South Korean Fair Trade Commission (FTC).<ref>{{Cite web|last=기자윤 |first=윤지혜지혜|date=2020-09-24|title=인플루언서, 공정위 만나 '뒷광고' 근절 약속|trans-title=Influencer meets Fair Trade Commission and promises to eradicate 'back advertisements'|url=http://www.inews24.com/view/1302217|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014032313/http://inews24.com/view/1302217 |archive-date=2020-10-14 |access-date=2020-11-04|website=inews24|language=korean}}</ref> On August 24 2020, Chairman of the FTC Cho Seong-wook met with prominent individuals and internet celebrities at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the [[Jung District, Seoul|Jung District]] of Seoul, which resulted in the implementation of strict regulations on social media platforms (including YouTube) in order to crackdowncrack down on the practice of 'backdoor' advertising.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=기자강 |first=강종민종민|date=2020-09-24|title='뒷광고' 논란 후 유튜버 만난 조성욱 "적응 기간 이후 법 엄정 집행"|trans-title=Jo Sung-wook meets YouTuber after'back advertisement' controversy "Strict law enforcement after adaptation period"|url=https://www.newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20200924_0001178211|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-29|website=newsis[[Newsis]]|language=korean}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=IT이 칼럼니스트|first=이요훈요훈|date=2020-09-28|title=유튜브 뒤흔든 '뒷광고'…"앞으로 유료 광고 정확히 표기"|trans-title=YouTube'back advertisement' controversy... "In the future, paid advertisements are accurately marked"|url=https://science.ytn.co.kr/program/program_view.php?s_mcd=0082&key=202009281653335141|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-29|website=YTN 사이언스|language=korean}}</ref> These regulations did not immediately come into effect, but were instead enforced after a certain period of time, in order to allow affected individuals time to comply.<ref name=":0" />

The regulations required internet celebrities to clearly disclose instances of advertising and paid sponsorships as well as associated payments, and prohibited ambiguous phrases such as 'experience group' and 'thanks to'. Contravention of these regulations would be met by significant legal and financial penalties, including up to two years in prison and fines of up to 150 million won. Although these laws were typically applied to business owners, internet celebrities were considered as such and were therefore subject to the same treatment under South Korean law.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=기자차 |first=차지연지연|date=2020-08-12|title=9월부터 유튜브 '뒷광고' 금지…공정위 "계도기간 후 처벌"|trans-title=YouTube'back advertisement' banned from September... Fair Trade Commission "penalties after the transition period"|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200811153200002|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812164454/https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200811153200002 |archive-date=2020-08-12 |access-date=2020-11-04|website=연합뉴스[[Yonhap News Agency]]|language=korean}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

The strict response by the South Korean FTC prompted calls for similar measures abroad, with the [[Federal Trade Commission]] of the United States issuing a statement in February 2021 calling for the implementation of similar regulations.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|lastlast1=기자하 |firstfirst1=하선영,선영 장주영|last2=장 |first2=주영|date=2020-08-13|title='뒷광고' 유튜버만 잘못? 미국, 플랫폼도 처벌 추진|trans-title=Only'back advertisement' YouTubers are wrong? U.S. platforms also push for penalties|url=https://news.joins.com/article/23847455|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812180625/https://news.joins.com/article/23847455 |archive-date=2020-08-12 |access-date=2020-10-29|website=중앙일보[[JoongAng Ilbo]]|language=korean}}</ref> Legislative bodies in Japan and France passed similar measures, with offenders in France facing penalties of up to two years in prison and fines of up to 300,000 euros.<ref>{{Cite web|last=기자박 |first=박광연광연|date=2020-08-11|title=유튜브 '뒷광고' 뿌리 뽑기…자진 시정 우선, 규제 입법 추진|trans-title=Rooting YouTube'back advertisements'... Prioritize voluntary correction, promote regulatory legislation|url=http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=202008111635001&code=920100|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-29|website=경향신문[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]]|language=korean}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=기자고 |first=고은이은이|date=2020-08-28|title=규제 사각지대 '뒷광고' 논란|trans-title=Controversy over regulatory blind spot'back advertisement'|url=https://www.hankyung.com/economy/article/2020082886411|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828184106/https://www.hankyung.com/economy/article/2020082886411 |archive-date=2020-08-28 |access-date=2020-10-29|website=한국경제|language=korean}}</ref>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Korean YouTube backdoor advertising controversy -, 2020}}

[[Category:YouTube2020 channelscontroversies]]