"Housewife Fined for Posting False Review Claiming Snack Tastes Like Cosmetics"

Fine of 2 Million Won Imposed... Charged with Obstruction of Business

A woman in her 40s, who was indicted for posting false purchase reviews on an online site of a food company selling traditional snacks to disrupt sales, was sentenced to a fine again in the second trial.

According to the legal community on the 30th, the Criminal Appeals Division 2 of Daejeon District Court sentenced A (40), who was indicted for obstruction of business, to a fine of 2 million won, the same as the original trial.

A was indicted for writing false purchase reviews on an online market in September 2020, obstructing the sales operations of B.

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A wrote a review stating, "I am in my 20s and bought a health snack to give to my prospective father-in-law, but he said it tastes like cosmetics," and "My father often orders from company C, but he says this is not as good."

However, it was confirmed that A was not in her 20s and that her prospective father-in-law never said it tasted like cosmetics. Company C was operated by A’s mother-in-law and others, and was identified as a competitor to the company operated by B.

B testified that the false purchase reviews led to a flood of inquiries from hesitant customers, causing damage especially with the Chuseok holiday approaching.

The second trial court dismissed the appeal, stating, "At the time the review was written, there was a dispute between B’s company and company C, and the defendant was closely related to the competing company, so she must have been well aware that the product review could influence purchasing decisions."

The first trial court ruled, "A is closely related to company C, and since she was already married and did not buy the product as a gift for her prospective father-in-law, the main content constitutes false facts." Furthermore, it judged, "Considering that purchase reviews significantly influence other consumers’ purchasing decisions, there is sufficient evidence to recognize intent."

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