Grandmother Park Makrye Faces YouTube 'Exaggerated Advertising' Controversy... Switches SNS to Private Mode

Grandma Park Makrye. Photo by Grandma Park Makrye YouTube capture.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Amid ongoing controversies over 'undisclosed advertisements' by popular YouTubers, the exaggerated advertising controversy involving YouTuber Park Makrye Halmoni has resurfaced, leading Park Makrye Halmoni and her granddaughter, YouTube PD Kim Yura, to switch their Instagram accounts to private.

On the morning of the 7th, DIA TV, the agency representing Park Makrye Halmoni, apologized following the controversy over exaggerated advertising in the LED mask video.

Previously, YouTuber 'Samangyeowoo TV' claimed that Park Makrye Halmoni and six other popular YouTubers made false and exaggerated advertisements for the 'Cellreturn LED Mask,' sparking controversy.

Photo by Samangyeowoo TV YouTube capture

In response, DIA TV posted a statement on their homepage saying, "DIA TV would like to clarify its position regarding the LED mask advertisement video produced in collaboration with partner creators and company C."

DIA TV stated, "The corrective action taken by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) against company C in 2019 was directed at the sales phrases used by the consignment seller, and did not apply to videos made by our partner creators. Therefore, we maintained the videos produced with our partner creators."

They added, "However, we could not completely eliminate the possibility of viewer misunderstanding regarding the MFDS's concerns or prohibited terms. To prevent further confusion among viewers and consumers, we decided to make the related advertisement videos private based on our own judgment."

Photo by YouTuber Grandma Park Makrye and granddaughter Kim Yura, Instagram capture.

Furthermore, they said, "We apologize for not promptly providing direct and accurate communication to the partner creators involved in the collaboration, as well as to the viewers who trust and support them, regarding the criticism they faced during this process."

Netizens, observing that the two switched their Instagram accounts to private amid mounting criticism over exaggerated advertising, responded with comments such as "Isn't an apology enough?" and "This is disappointing."