YouTuber GwakTube's controversy over sponsored services for his civil servant wife continues, and another creator, Kim Seontae's candid advertising philosophy is being reexamined and drawing attention. His remarks in which he did not hide sponsorships and revenue structures but directly disclosed them are also said to be earning trust.
Recently, GwakTube was embroiled in allegations of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act (Kim Young-ran Act) after it became known that his wife stayed at a luxury Birthcare Center provided as a sponsorship. Because his spouse is a public servant, the issue of whether gifts were provided to the family of a public official surfaced as a point of contention, and the matter eventually reached the stage of review by the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission. GwakTube's side explained that it was a room upgrade provision and said they paid the full difference, but the controversy has not easily subsided.
Meanwhile, Kim Seontae's remarks in a recent brand collaboration video resurfaced as a topic of conversation. In a video collaborating with a mattress brand, he said, "I will donate, but the bigger reason is to make money. I have to make money for me to donate." He added, "I don't live to donate. I'm trying to live well," revealing an unvarnished, realistic outlook.
In particular, regarding the sponsored mattress he said he would "use it strictly by myself," seeming to preempt controversy. In addition, Kim Seontae joked, "I'm someone who is clear about money. I'm crazy about money," showing an honest attitude toward advertising revenue. Rather than packaging a benevolent image, the clear line he drew—"advertising is advertising, revenue is revenue"—was received by the public as refreshingly straightforward.
Netizens reacted, "It's better that he says it so bluntly," "It's believable because he's honest," "It's good that he doesn't pretend to be kind," and "Transparency is key in sponsorship controversies."
As the YouTube market has recently expanded, the public's standards for sponsorships, advertising and indirect promotion have become stricter. Ultimately, critics say the important thing is not whether something is an advertisement but how transparently it is disclosed and whether potential conflicts of interest are prevented in advance.
[Photo] 'SNS, OSEN DB'
[OSEN]