Travel YouTuber Kwak Tube posted that the postpartum care center his wife used had provided sponsorship, then deleted the post. As speculation grew that Kwak Tube's wife, known to be a civil servant, could face discipline for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, some said he did so with that in mind.
On the 1st, Kwak Tube posted photos taken at a postpartum care center on his social media (SNS) and wrote "sponsored" in the location tag. However, that wording has now been deleted.
As word spread that the sponsorship wording had been deleted and various theories emerged about the reason, Kwak Tube's agency moved to explain.
SM C&C said on the 8th, "It was not full sponsorship; only a room upgrade was provided," adding, "As the misunderstanding grew, we deleted the word 'sponsored' from the post."
Some, however, speculate the word "sponsored" was deleted because Kwak Tube's spouse could face discipline under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. For a two-week stay at the postpartum care center, the lowest tier, Royal, is 6.9 million won, the higher tier, Suite, is 10.5 million won, and the top tier, Presidential Suite, is around 25 million won.
Even if only a room upgrade was provided, the price difference could be at least 3.6 million won.
Under Article 8 of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, civil servants may not receive more than 1 million won per occasion or more than 3 million won per fiscal year from the same person, regardless of whether it is related to their duties. Items of value include not only cash but also goods, accommodation vouchers, memberships, and services and conveniences provided free or at a low price.
It means that if the benefit was received solely as a room upgrade and due to civil servant status, it could constitute a violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
On the other hand, some interpret the act as possibly unrelated to this case.
Reasons cited include that the recipient of the sponsorship was Kwak Tube personally, not a public official; that it was a promotional sponsorship in the form of a room upgrade; and that the connection between the civil servant spouse's duties and the sponsorship is weak.