Vote Manipulation in 'Produce 1~4' Results in Highest Level Fine by Korea Communications Standards Commission

Highest Level Sanctions and Fines Decided Under Broadcasting Act... Amount to Be Discussed Later
Fact Revealed That 'Produce 101' Also Manipulated 4th Voting Results
SBS's 'The King' Airing Disruptive PPL Receives Warning

Produce 101 Season 2 Poster / Photo by CJ E&M

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) has decided to impose the highest level of sanctions under the Broadcasting Act, a 'fine,' on four programs including Mnet's 'Produce 101' and 'Produce 101 Season 2,' which manipulated voting results.

On the 10th, the KCSC held a plenary meeting at the Broadcasting Hall in Mokdong, Seoul, and reviewed Mnet's ▲Produce 101 ▲Produce 101 Season 2 ▲Produce 48 ▲Produce X 101, deciding to impose fines. The KCSC will determine the amount of the fine at a future plenary meeting, considering the nature, extent, duration, and frequency of the violations.

Previously, Mnet manipulated the voting results in all four programs from Produce 101 Season 1 to 4 by either altering the results of each episode's votes or arbitrarily setting the final rankings before viewer voting, thereby reversing the pass and fail outcomes, and broadcast these as if they were the actual viewer voting results.

The KCSC additionally confirmed that for Season 1, manipulation extended beyond the first round of voting results to the fourth round as well. Mnet manipulated the 1st and 4th round results in Produce 101 Season 2, the 4th round in Season 3, and the 1st, 3rd, and 4th rounds in Season 4. Due to the manipulation of voting results, rankings changed, causing pass and fail outcomes to be reversed.

The KCSC stated, "It is a serious issue that the program promoted viewer participation voting as the main feature determining the final group members, encouraged paid text voting, manipulated the voting results to deceive viewers, obstructed fair public opinion gathering, and wasted the efforts of audition participants."

Additionally, at the plenary meeting on the same day, the KCSC issued a 'warning' decision to SBS's 'The King: Eternal Monarch' for excessively highlighting product placement (PPL) scenes to the extent that it disrupted the flow of the storyline and using advertising phrases that evoked the product. In episode 8, the main character Lee Gon said during a phone call, "The first taste is rich and the finish is clean. Is this sold in Korea?" while showing a close-up of the PPL product.

The KCSC said, "This was an inappropriate advertising effect through indirect advertising that exceeded the scope permitted by the Broadcasting Act and broadcasting standards regulations," adding, "The broadcaster has already received several administrative guidance and legal sanctions for similar reasons, and if the same issue occurs again, severe penalties will be unavoidable, so the broadcaster needs to make efforts for self-regulation."

The KCSC also issued a 'caution' decision to three home shopping channels that broadcast content likely to cause misunderstanding about product efficacy. CJ O Shopping and NS Home Shopping broadcasted the sale of the health functional food Ever Collagen Time related to skin, suggesting it was also effective for hair and joints. Gongyoung Shopping sold a general food product containing low molecular fish collagen, 'Jeon Ji Hyun THE Collagen Powder S,' broadcasting it as effective for improving skin elasticity, receiving a 'caution' decision.