Suh Samsuk: "Company Promoting Donations to Dokdo Guard Unit Actually Donated 'Zero Won'"

Controversy Over Marketing Tactics Using Dokdo Day
"Stop False Advertising and Deceptive Acts Against the Public"

Seosamsuk, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker.

A food company that promoted donating a portion of its profits to the Dokdo Guard Unit has come under fire after it was revealed that not a single cent was actually donated.

On October 30, Suh Samsuk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Yeongam, Muan, and Shinan in South Jeolla Province), analyzed data submitted by the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency and found that Company A had announced it would donate 2% of its sales profits to the Dokdo Guard Unit, but no such donation had been made.

Last month, ahead of 'Dokdo Day,' Company A promoted through the media that it would donate part of the proceeds from the sale of a power bank featuring Dokdo as a symbol to the Dokdo Guard Unit. However, the Dokdo Guard Unit is a police organization under the National Police Agency and, according to the Act on the Collection and Use of Donations, is not eligible to receive donations.

An official from the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency stated, "Company A never expressed any intention to donate, and the Dokdo Guard Unit is legally prohibited from receiving donations," adding, "If there are any donation requests in the future, we will explain this and decline them."

As the controversy grew, Company A explained, "It was Company B, the manufacturer of the power bank, that unilaterally promoted the donation, and we only provided the license." In response, Company B stated, "After confirming that donations could not be made to the Dokdo Guard Unit, we changed the recipient to the Dokdo Love Movement Headquarters." However, criticism has arisen that this still constitutes deceiving the public, as the initial promotion was for donations to the Dokdo Guard Unit.

Suh Samsuk stated, "It is very regrettable that Dokdo Day was exploited for commercial marketing purposes," and emphasized, "The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries must cooperate with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Police Agency, and the Fair Trade Commission to immediately stop false advertising and deceptive acts against the public, and to establish measures to prevent recurrence."

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