Netizens "Targeting Small Business Owners for YouTube Views"
Pizza Nara Chicken Princess decided to take legal action on the 1st against the manipulation broadcast controversy involving Song Dae-ik, a YouTuber with 1.3 million subscribers. Photo by Song Dae-ik, from the 'songdaeik' YouTube channel capture.
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-joo] Pizza Nara Chicken Gongju has decided to take legal action over the manipulated broadcast controversy involving YouTuber Song Dae-ik, who has 1.3 million subscribers.
According to a report by Sports Kyunghyang on the 1st, a legal official from the franchise company Pizza Nara Chicken Gongju stated, "We have just become aware of the controversy related to Song Dae-ik," and added, "We will consider legal measures after verifying the facts."
On the 28th of last month, Song Dae-ik posted a video on his YouTube channel showing himself ordering pizza and chicken delivery from a branch of Pizza Nara Chicken Gongju.
In the video, Song Dae-ik claimed, "I found signs that the delivery person had eaten the pizza and chicken, and I requested a refund from the branch, but it was refused. The chicken had bite marks, and two slices of the pizza were missing."
However, it was revealed that all of Song Dae-ik's claims in the broadcast were false.
Another YouTuber contacted a representative of Pizza Nara Chicken Gongju to verify the facts and received a response stating, "This is not true."
A representative of Pizza Nara Chicken Gongju expressed regret, saying, "We regret that the YouTuber maliciously slandered an innocent franchise store."
As the controversy grew, Song Dae-ik deleted the video.
The so-called "manipulated broadcast" has led to increasing criticism against Song Dae-ik.
Critics have condemned the act as malicious targeting of small business owners struggling due to COVID-19, done merely to increase YouTube views.
Moreover, suspicions have arisen that Song Dae-ik deleted and blocked comments from netizens criticizing him, further escalating the controversy.
Meanwhile, Song Dae-ik is a YouTuber with 1.34 million subscribers who uploads videos mainly about mukbang and daily life. As of last year, his annual income is reported to be 1 billion KRW.
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