YouTuber GwakTube (Gwak Jun-bin)'s wife, a civil servant, is accused of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act after receiving sponsored Birthcare Center services valued at hundreds of thousands to millions of won. GwakTube issued explanations and an apology after the controversy, but the matter ultimately reached the review stage at the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC).
According to a Sports Kyunghyang report on the 13th, the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission Secretariat's Corruption Prevention Bureau, Office for the Prohibition of Solicitation, received a complaint on the 10th inquiring whether the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act applies to GwakTube's wife and is known to be reviewing the applicability of related laws.
Earlier, on the 1st GwakTube uploaded photos of the Birthcare Center with the hashtag "sponsored," sparking controversy. GwakTube married a civil servant five years his junior after a premarital pregnancy in October last year, and they welcomed a son in March this year. In the process, GwakTube's wife stayed at a luxury Birthcare Center that cost up to 25 million won for a two-week stay, and the fact that the center was a sponsorship caused a stir.
When the controversy arose, GwakTube quietly removed the word 'sponsored.' His agency, SM C&C, explained that it was not a full sponsorship of the Birthcare Center but an upgrade of the room that was provided.
However, the difference in cost for the Birthcare Center room upgrade is known to range from at least 3.6 million won to a maximum of 18.1 million won. GwakTube's wife is a current civil servant, and under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, public officials are prohibited from receiving money or valuables from the same person exceeding 1 million won on a single occasion or 3 million won in a fiscal year, regardless of whether it is related to their duties or given under the pretext of donations, sponsorships or gifts.
Online, claims poured in that even a simple room upgrade would violate the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, commonly known as the 'Kim Young-ran Act.' In response, on the 10th GwakTube posted a long statement on his YouTube channel, saying he sought legal advice after the controversy since his spouse is a civil servant, and confirmed that the sponsorship was a private contract between him and the Birthcare Center and was not related to his spouse's duties.
He said he deeply felt that, regardless of the reason, he should have acted more carefully as a family member of a public official and that he will sincerely explain any procedural matters if necessary. He added that reflecting on his lack of consideration, he intends to donate 30 million won to support single mothers, which he had long kept in his heart. He also said he has paid in full the difference in cost for the upgrade to the Birthcare Center.
Reactions to GwakTube's explanation were mixed. Some netizens argued that because GwakTube was the sponsor and he paid the full amount received, there was no problem, while others continued to assert that the sponsorship itself constitutes a violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act regardless of subsequent measures. They pointed out that even if the sponsorship contract was with GwakTube, the party that actually benefited was GwakTube's wife, and if a civil servant were allowed to accept valuables through a spouse with whom they are legally married, it could be widely abused in the future.
Meanwhile, the case entered a new phase as a complaint was filed with the ACRC. The complaint asked whether: ▲a benefit directly enjoyed by a spouse can be regarded as directly received by the public official; ▲duty-relatedness is recognized even when the sponsor only expected promotional effects from the YouTuber; ▲the upgrade difference is used as the monetary standard for valuables, among six issues, querying the applicability of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, and the ACRC is reviewing whether the act applies. If found to violate the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, disciplinary action and fines or penalties may be imposed. Because the ACRC can notify relevant investigative agencies if it recognizes criminal suspicion or the need for investigation, attention is focused on the outcome.
[Photo] OSEN DB, GwakTube SNS
[OSEN]