Lee Junseok: "Infant Formula and Traditional Liquor Allowed... Abolishing 30-Year-Old Broadcast Advertising Regulations"

"Broadcast Advertising Regulations Are Stuck in a 30-Year-Old Mindset"
"Will Shift to a Content-Focused Review System"
"Letter to Party Members: Will Complete the Presidential Race to the End"

Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, pledged on May 26 to "abolish, in principle, regulations that impose a blanket ban on all items in broadcast advertising."

On the morning of the same day, through a policy statement, Lee said, "We will shift to a post-review system focused on false advertising, harmfulness, and potential social harm," announcing this policy direction.

Lee explained, "Currently, broadcast advertising still maintains a system of total bans based solely on the type of product, which remains unchanged from the regulatory framework introduced in the 1990s. For example, advertising for products such as infant formula and traditional liquor is completely blocked due to reasons such as the encouragement of breastfeeding, youth protection, and concerns about exaggeration." He further pointed out, "However, advertisements for the same products are allowed on platforms like YouTube and social networking services (SNS) with virtually no restrictions, creating a structure where only broadcasting is regulated while digital platforms are effectively unlimited."

Candidate Lee Junseok Visiting Suwon Station Rodeo Street (Suwon=Yonhap News) Photo by Hong Giwon = Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, is greeting citizens on May 24 at Suwon Station Rodeo Street in Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do. 2025.5.24 xanadu@yna.co.kr (End)

Lee stated, "We will abolish total bans and transition to a content-focused review system. We will eliminate the broadcast-centered regulatory framework so that different media?such as broadcasting, online video services (OTT), and SNS?do not face different regulations for the same products, and we will establish unified standards suitable for the digital environment." However, he added that for matters related to public interest, such as youth protection, separate standards will be established to maintain certain restrictions.

Lee said, "By removing factors that shrink the broadcast advertising industry, we can lay the groundwork for terrestrial broadcasters to recover advertising revenue. We will also expand the provision of consumer information through advertising and bridge the information gap."

Meanwhile, on this day, Lee focused more on broadcast interviews and a discussion hosted by the Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club rather than on-the-ground campaigning. At the discussion, he stated, "As I visit campaign sites these days, I can sense an unusual atmosphere. Voters are now truly witnessing the emergence of a completely new political force." He emphasized, "From the very start of the presidential race, I made it clear that I intend to see it through to the end," adding, "This morning, I plan to deliver a message to Reform New Party members stating, 'I will complete this presidential race to the end and win the election.'"