Fine Imposed on Advertising Agency CEO for Posting Negative Comments Against Competitors Under 'Yanolja' Directive

Signboard of the headquarters of the accommodation platform company Yanolja
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The CEO of an advertising agency who posted defamatory comments about a competitor under the direction of the accommodation platform company 'Yanolja' was sentenced to a fine in the first trial.

According to the legal community on the 16th, Judge Park Hyun-sook of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 22 sentenced An, the CEO of Yanolja's viral marketing agency, who was indicted on charges of obstruction of business, to a fine of 5 million won. An is accused of conspiring with Yanolja employee Kang and others to post false information about the competitor 'Yeo-gi-eottae'. An had his own employees post comments on articles related to Yeo-gi-eottae such as "It is inconvenient to use," "I wish the customer service staff were properly trained," and "It clearly looks like a post paid for by Yeo-gi-eottae." Additionally, An personally posted false statements such as "There are claims that the 50% discount coupon from Yeo-gi-eottae is manipulated. I have never received a 50% discount coupon even once," after receiving instructions from Kang to upload blog posts unfavorable to Yeo-gi-eottae.

The court found all of An's charges to be guilty. It pointed out, "Although the defendant had never personally used Yeo-gi-eottae, he posted and distributed false posts implying dissatisfaction with the service, thereby obstructing Yeo-gi-eottae's business."

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