"Celebrity Wife Threatened After Visiting Host Bar"... YouTubers Trying to Boost Views Draw Criticism

"Celebrity Wife Visited Host Bar"... YouTuber Controversy Over Revealing Real Name
87% of YouTube Users Say "YouTuber's 'Fake News Spread' Is a Serious Problem"

Recently, some YouTubers have been creating content based on unverified information, causing controversy. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Pixabay.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Recently, some YouTubers have been creating sensational content based on unverified information, sparking controversy. In one case, a YouTuber revisited an incident involving the wife of a celebrity who was threatened due to past visits to a host bar, even mentioning real names, which has become problematic. As YouTubers produce various content featuring celebrities without verifying the facts, calls for measures to address this issue are emerging. For celebrities, regardless of the truth, getting embroiled in controversy inevitably damages their image.

Recently, a YouTuber posted a video claiming that the wife of a famous celebrity, Mr. A, Ms. B, socialized with male hosts at a host bar and was threatened as a result. The video, uploaded on the 27th of last month, became a hot topic with over 800,000 views but has since been deleted.

This incident became public when Ms. B filed a police complaint in 2019 about being threatened. At that time, a man in his 30s who worked as a host bar attendant threatened Ms. B, saying, "If you don't pay money, I will reveal that you frequented the host bar," and was prosecuted. Media outlets reported the case anonymously.

However, this YouTuber mentioned the real names of Mr. A and Ms. B despite the information being unverified and even used their photos as thumbnail images. As the video gained attention, netizens began posting malicious comments targeting Ms. B, and other YouTube channels started producing content on the same topic.

Besides this channel, there are quite a few channels that produce content mentioning celebrities' real names based on unverified information. The reason they produce sensational content is related to advertising revenue.

YouTubers who meet conditions such as having over 1,000 subscribers and more than 4,000 hours of annual watch time receive revenue shares based on views and mid-roll ad fees.

Although earnings vary by YouTuber, except for some top YouTubers, most YouTubers in South Korea earn less than $1 (about 1,100 KRW) per 1,000 views. In other words, as views increase, earnings naturally increase as well.

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The problem lies in producing content recklessly without thoroughly verifying the private lives of celebrities and other public figures. For celebrities, whose public image is important, fake news produced carelessly can cause image damage.

The seriousness of fake news spread by YouTubers is also reflected in related surveys. According to a survey conducted by the Korea Press Foundation in February targeting 1,000 YouTube users, 87% of respondents considered the spread of fake news by YouTubers to be a "very serious problem."

However, legal systems to prevent such YouTuber-generated fake news are insufficient. Unless individuals file defamation lawsuits against YouTubers, punishing them is practically difficult, and even when lawsuits are filed, penalties are often lenient.

As a result, there are calls for separate measures to prevent fake news produced through YouTube.

Kim, a worker in their 20s, said, "Nowadays, YouTube seems to have more influence than broadcasting. Many people watch the YouTube channels they subscribe to even if they don't watch TV broadcasts," adding, "But sometimes, the provocative thumbnails or titles on YouTube make me frown."

He continued, "YouTubers who create fake news to stir up issues are also a problem. While many people don't believe fake news, there are also many who believe it, thinking 'there's no smoke without fire.'"

Experts analyze that the overheated competition in the YouTube market causes the production of sensational content. Professor Kwak Geumju of Seoul National University's Department of Psychology said, "As the number of YouTubers increases, more people try to find unique topics different from others," adding, "In trying to increase views, they end up seeking more sensational elements."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.