"False Advertising of 'Final Discount'... Mega and Champ Study Fined"

원본보기 아이콘

Online lecture service providers that have continued false advertising claiming discounts for exam takers were about to expire for more than six years have been fined.

The Fair Trade Commission announced on the 16th that it imposed fines of 250 million KRW and 510 million KRW respectively on Megastudy Education and Champ Study for violating the Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising (Fair Advertising Act), along with orders for correction and public announcement.

Megastudy Education used expressions such as "last purchase opportunity" and "final sale end" every week from October 2016 to July 2023, advertising as if providing benefits to consumers. Champ Study also advertised using expressions like "one day before deadline" and "time left for benefits" from November 2016 to November last year.

However, it was investigated that the products with the same price and configuration were repeatedly advertised even after the limited period indicated by terms like "last" had passed. The Fair Trade Commission judged that such acts constitute false and exaggerated advertising.

Champ Study was found to have posted a digital timer at the bottom of the advertisement screen to induce purchases before the "deadline." This is considered deceptive advertising under the Fair Advertising Act as it interferes with consumers' rational purchasing decisions.

The Fair Trade Commission stated, "It is significant that by detecting and sanctioning unfair limited-time sales advertisements that lasted for more than six years in the growing online education market, an advertising environment has been created where major consumers, exam takers, can make proper purchasing choices."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.