[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Bodyfriend, a massage chair company accused of false advertising by claiming that massage chairs are effective for adolescents' height growth and cognitive functions such as concentration, denied all charges at the first trial.
On the 10th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 19 (Presiding Judge Lee Wonjoong) held the first trial for Bodyfriend Corporation and CEO Park Sanghyun, who were indicted for violating the Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising.
On this day, Bodyfriend's lawyer admitted "the fact that the advertisement existed" but argued that "(the advertisement) was not false or exaggerated." They also claimed that CEO Park was not the person responsible for the advertisement.
Previously, Bodyfriend and CEO Park were brought to trial for advertising the adolescent massage chair 'HiKi' in January 2019 through newspapers and magazines, claiming effects such as 'height growth' and 'improved learning ability.' According to the Fair Trade Commission, Bodyfriend had never proven the height growth effect through clinical trials at that time.
In particular, the prosecution judged that the false and exaggerated advertisements related to appearance and learning, which are concerns for growing adolescents and their parents, interfered with consumers' rational purchasing decisions for massage chairs and harmed fair trade order.
The next hearing will be held at 4:30 p.m. on the 7th of next month, during which the court will conduct witness examinations for witnesses requested by both parties.
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