Top Instructor Park Kwang-il Arrested... Industry Says "What Was Bound to Happen, Happened"
With Increased Competition, Defamation of Other Instructors and Review Manipulation Rampant
Despite Daesung MyMac Refund Measures, Students Remain Dissatisfied
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The private academy scene is in turmoil as Park Kwang-il, a Korean language instructor for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), was arrested on charges of manipulating online comments. As the widespread practice of comment manipulation in the entrance exam industry has come to light, many feel that the inevitable has finally happened.
Park from Daesung MyMac was arrested on the 19th for allegedly posting defamatory comments against competitors and other instructors from affiliated companies using hundreds of IDs over a two-year period starting July 2017. An industry insider explained, "This happened as competition among instructors intensified rapidly over the past five years with changing trends in the entrance exam industry. For about 10 million KRW per month, a comment manipulation team can be operated, and sometimes teams or assistants are organized to carry out comment manipulation."
The issue of comment manipulation arose from fierce competition among instructors. So-called ‘top instructors’ who earn tens of billions of KRW in annual salary do not hesitate to defame their competitors during lectures. In June 2019, math instructor Woo Hyung-cheol (pseudonym Sapjaru), who exposed Park’s comment manipulation controversy, came forward as a whistleblower. Woo revealed that in 2017, Etoos manipulated comments to disparage competing academies. Jung Mo, former executive director of Etoos, was sentenced to two years in prison with a three-year probation.
Review of Mr. Park, who was blinded on Byeolbyeol Teacher (Source: Screenshot from Byeolbyeol Teacher)
Not only defaming other instructors, but many also manipulate reviews related to their own lectures. The instructor review platform 'Byeolbyeol Seonsaeng' has blinded reviews related to four instructors who manipulated IP addresses. Reviews of Park’s lectures are currently closed. Park Se-jun, CEO of T-ValueWise, explained, "From last spring to autumn, we discovered signs of organized IP-based comment manipulation by instructors in other fields such as English and civil service exams, but after much consideration, we decided to close the reviews."
Daesung MyMac announced that it will suspend providing Park’s lecture content until the final verdict is reached and will offer refunds for courses and textbooks. Students are unable to hide their frustration. One student said, "I wasted a month. The curriculum has collapsed, and it’s confusing."
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