Despite promotional phrases like "last purchase opportunity" and "0 days 0 hours remaining until application deadline," MegaStudyEdu and ChampStudy engaged in false and exaggerated advertising by continuing to sell online lecture products under the same conditions even after the deadline, and are facing sanctions from the Fair Trade Commission.
On the 16th, the Fair Trade Commission imposed a correction order and a public announcement order, along with penalty surcharges of 250 million won for MegaStudy and 510 million won for ChampStudy, stating that these online lecture service providers had engaged in deceptive advertising practices while selling online lecture service products related to civil servant exams and language studies.
MegaStudyEdu advertised to consumers using expressions like "last purchase opportunity" and "final sale end" every week from October 2016 to July 2023, giving the impression of benefits. ChampStudy also used expressions like "one day before the deadline" in advertisements from November 2016 to last November. However, it was investigated that they repeatedly advertised the same products with identical prices and configurations even after these limited periods had passed. The Fair Trade Commission concluded that such actions correspond to false and exaggerated advertising practices.
Additionally, ChampStudy was found to have displayed a digital timer at the bottom of the advertisement to induce purchases before the "deadline." This is considered a deceptive advertising practice under the Advertisement Rule, as it interferes with consumers' rational purchasing decisions.
The Fair Trade Commission noted, "These companies previously entered into a self-regulation agreement to prevent unfair advertising for online lecture providers in order to provide accurate information to consumers," and pointed out, "Despite recognizing that limited-time sale advertisements could be considered unfair advertising, they continued these practices over a prolonged period without interruption."