Politics · South Korea · 6 hrs ago
TV Home-Shopping Refunds Covered Just 5.7% of Sales From Misleading Ads
South Korea’s media regulator penalized seven TV home-shopping companies over 13 cases of misleading or exaggerated advertising this year.
The cases involved products including health supplements and cosmetics, whose ads were found to mislead viewers about their effects or encourage impulsive purchases.
The products generated 11.2 billion won in sales, but customers received only 651 million won in refunds, or 5.7% of that amount.
For one health supplement, four companies sold 25,545 units for about 8.2 billion won, while refunds came to about 290 million won.
At least nine months passed between sales and penalties in the cases described, and many refunds appear to have happened independently of the regulator’s action.
There is no legal rule requiring refunds for products penalized over misleading ads, and companies did not directly notify buyers about refund procedures.
A lawmaker called for rules requiring companies to tell customers about penalties and organize refunds, but no next step was specified.
TV home-shopping products flagged for misleading or exaggerated advertising generated 11.2 billion won in sales, but refunds totaled only 651 million won.
The refunds covered 5.7% of sales, according to data analyzed by lawmaker Seo Cheon-ho.
The media review body issued 13 warnings to seven home-shopping companies this year over claims including exaggerated health-product benefits.
The article says there is no legal basis requiring refunds for products subject to these administrative penalties.
Lawmaker Seo called for measures to require companies to notify customers and formalize refund procedures.
- Who
- Seven TV home-shopping companies received warnings. Lawmaker Seo Cheon-ho analyzed the data.
- What
- Products flagged for misleading or exaggerated advertising generated 11.2 billion won in sales, while refunds totaled 651 million won.
- When
- The data was reported on October 22, 2026. The warnings were issued this year.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The media review body found that advertising misled consumers, including by exaggerating product benefits.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Four home-shopping companies sold a health supplement later found to have been advertised in a way that could mislead viewers about its benefits.
The media review body issued warnings to the four companies over the supplement advertising.
A home-shopping company received a warning over a cosmetics broadcast that suggested orders were surging and encouraged impulse buying.
Donga Ilbo reported that refunds for products flagged for misleading or exaggerated advertising amounted to 5.7% of sales.
- Total sales
- 11.2 billion won
- Refunds
- 651 million won, or 5.7% of sales
- Warnings
- 13 warnings to seven TV home-shopping companies
- Supplement sales
- 25,545 units and about 8.2 billion won in revenue
- Supplement refunds
- About 290 million won, or 3.5% of sales
- Cosmetics broadcast
- 5.55 billion?
1 source
What people are saying
TV home-shopping companies should act quickly to develop measures to prevent unfair transactions, including institutionalizing the process of informing customers about disciplinary decisions and processing refunds.