The career of a lecturer who falsely advertised as a graduate of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Seoul National University was revealed through a parent's report, leading to the academy receiving sanctions from the Fair Trade Commission.
On the 25th, the Fair Trade Commission announced that it imposed corrective orders on the corporation KS, which operates the 'Kim Teacher Academy,' a math academy for middle and high school students, for violating the Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising. The order also included a provision to disclose the violation.
According to the Fair Trade Commission, the Kim Teacher Academy posted advertisements exaggerating the lecturer's credentials and entrance exam results inside and outside the Suseong Campus building in Daegu from December 2019 to January 2023. The lecturer's academic background was introduced as 'a graduate of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Seoul National University,' and the phrase 'many students admitted to SKY and medical schools every year' was also used. However, the actual academic background was from a university located in the metropolitan area, and the admission results were found to have been used in advertising without a separate verification process.
The problematic phrases were repeatedly displayed on external banners, internal banners, and posters. Considering that students and parents value the lecturer's school background and entrance exam results, the Fair Trade Commission determined that such advertisements likely had a significant impact on course selection. The false credentials were noted as an act undermining the fair competitive order in the offline academy lecture market.
In particular, the false information regarding Mr. A's credentials came to light through a parent's tip that was reported to the Fair Trade Commission and the police. The academy explained that they were 'deceived by the lecturer,' but the Fair Trade Commission held the academy responsible for not verifying the lecturer's educational background and results.
A Fair Trade Commission official stated, 'In a situation where competition in the private education market for advertising is intensifying, we will respond strictly to actions that distort consumers' rational choices,' and noted, 'We will closely examine the advertising practices of academies to prevent similar cases from recurring.'