YouTuber KwakTube received a Birthcare Center upgrade sponsorship and was embroiled in controversy over violating the Kim Young-ran Act (anti-graft law), drawing attention to whether he will actually be punished.
Recently, KwakTube posted several photos on social media of his wife, who gave birth, staying at a Birthcare Center. He tagged the Birthcare Center location and labeled it "sponsorship," but the wording later disappeared without notice.
Online speculation followed that KwakTube's action might have been taken in consideration of his wife's status as a public official. As the controversy grew, his agency SM C&C explained, the wording was deleted because it was not an overall sponsorship but only a room upgrade service.
However, some argued that even a room upgrade would count as a sponsorship, and others said that deleting the wording might instead constitute covert advertising. The two-week standard fee at the Birthcare Center used by KwakTube's wife ranges from the 6.9 million-won level to 25 million won depending on the grade, and even if only a room upgrade was provided, the benefit could range from at least 3.6 million won to 18.1 million won.
In particular, voices grew that this could be a violation of the anti-graft law because KwakTube's wife is a public official. Under the current anti-graft law, public officials may not receive money or services exceeding 1 million won at one time, regardless of whether it is related to their duties. Even if the Birthcare Center provided benefits because of KwakTube, if the actual user was KwakTube's wife, it could be a violation of the anti-graft law.
In this regard, Roh Jong-eon, a representative attorney at the law firm Exist, pointed out, The Birthcare Center offered a room upgrade after seeing KwakTube. They wanted promotional effects through KwakTube, but his wife was a public official. If they provided the upgrade knowing his wife was a public official, there could be a possibility of violating the Kim Young-ran Act.
Attorney Roh said, However, if the Birthcare Center did not know the wife was a public official and there was no intent, there may be no issue. However, since the wife is a public official, she should have refused the sponsorship even if it came through KwakTube to avoid problems. In the wife's case, there could be a possibility of violating the Kim Young-ran Act.
Also, whether the Kim Young-ran Act applies can vary depending on the sponsored item. For example, what if a stroller sponsorship was provided to KwakTube? Attorney Roh said, A stroller directly benefits the child and indirectly benefits the parents. In such a case, because the person who directly received the benefit was not KwakTube's wife, it may not constitute a violation of the Kim Young-ran Act.
Meanwhile, KwakTube married a public official five years his junior last October. He announced the pregnancy at the time of the marriage and received many congratulations. On the 24th of last month, KwakTube announced his wife's childbirth, and he has shown particular affection by repeatedly sharing appearances with his son on social media.
[Photo] OSEN DB, KwakTube SNS
[OSEN]