Twelve broadcasters, including MBN Plus and TV Chosun2, were issued administrative guidance recommendations after airing a television commercial for Simga’s Premium Hanwoo Ox-Head Soup that touted “generous” amounts of green onion, onion, radish and ginseng—even though none of those ingredients accounted for 1% of the product—and depicted ingredients that were not actually present.
On the afternoon of the 27th, the Broadcasting Media and Communications Review Committee’s Advertising Subcommittee met and recommended administrative guidance for 12 channels — MBN Plus, TV Chosun2, SPOTV Golf & Health, Channel EM, Baduk TV, GTV, Channel Ever, D1, Edge TV, Cookie Health TV, World Classic Movie and Dong-A TV — for running an eight-minute Simga’s Premium Hanwoo Ox-Head Soup advertisement last March and April.
The ad featured claims such as “We won’t shortchange the meat,” “Overflowing amounts! Really packed in!” and “Loaded with onions, radish, green onions, and even pricey fresh ginseng,” alongside images of abundant meat and vegetables. In reality, radish, green onion and onion each made up only 0.14% of the product, ginseng accounted for just 0.001%, and beef comprised 12%.
The subcommittee also recommended administrative guidance for SK Stoa for overstating the benefits of the dietary supplement “Lactofit Diet.” Although the product does contain Garcinia cambogia extract — which may help reduce body fat by inhibiting the conversion of carbohydrates into fat — the host’s remarks, such as “Let’s get rid of everything that would build up that day” and “So the burger you enjoy today can just end as pleasure,” went beyond the product’s demonstrated functions. The subcommittee found the broadcast exaggerated effects and could mislead viewers into believing they could eat large amounts of carbohydrates without gaining weight.
The Broadcasting Media and Communications Review Committee’s disciplinary framework ranges from lower-level administrative guidance — “suggestions” and “recommendations” — to legal sanctions including “cautions,” “warnings,” disciplinary action against responsible parties, and, at higher levels, program corrections, suspensions or fines.
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