Civic Groups Call for KCSC Sanctions Against 'Iltamam'
"'Iltamam' encourages extravagant private education spending, thereby threatening social integrity."
Civic groups have called for the suspension of the variety show 'Iltamam', which shares tips on getting children into prestigious universities, arguing that it promotes academic elitism and private tutoring.
On July 15, 51 civic organizations including the Society for Child Education Without Private Tutoring (SCEWPT) held a press conference in front of the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) and the Korea Broadcasting Hall, stating, "The KCSC should issue a corrective recommendation and take measures such as suspending the broadcast of 'Iltamam' to prevent the spread of its negative influence."
'Iltamam', which began airing on tvN on June 26, introduces itself as "a program where a group of 'Iltamam' mothers, who have successfully helped their children gain admission to prestigious universities, and admissions consultants appear to offer solutions to educational concerns."
Press conference urging the suspension of the variety show 'Iltamam'. Provided by Society for Child Education Without Private Tutoring
However, SCEWPT and other groups, after monitoring the program, claimed that it glamorizes ignoring children's rights to achieve the college admissions results desired by parents, promotes academic elitism and discrimination between professions, increases the intensity of academic labor and thus threatens the healthy development of children and adolescents, and, under the pretext of counseling, directly or indirectly advertises certain private education companies.
The organizations also cited viewer reactions posted in online communities, such as "Parents who are not good at studying, live in rural areas, and lack information are treated as criminals," and "This is a program like those that observe the homes of wealthy people and celebrities," pointing out that the show creates a sense of deprivation and anxiety among parents.
They further emphasized, "It promotes discrimination based on parents' financial status, region of origin, and educational background, and threatens the healthy development of children and adolescents," stressing that "immediate sanctions against 'Iltamam' are necessary."
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