'YouTube brimming with sexist commercials'

By Kim Jae-heun

Concerns are growing over teenagers' exposure to sexual discrimination and violent content in YouTube commercials, which are not legally regulated here.

Other than the platform's premium users who pay a 7,900 won ($7) fee every month, ordinary users encounter commercials that run for up to 20 seconds before being able to watch the desired video.

According to the Seoul YWCA, which monitored YouTube ads from Oct. 1 to 31, 31 out of 524 commercials showed sexist content.

The group said one of the commercials showed a woman with food on her breasts while somebody points at the food with their chopsticks. Another commercial contained an advertising phrase that read “Game of Real Beautiful Woman.”

Some featured bikini-clad women.

Such suggestive commercials are restricted from being aired on television channels. However, there is no law regulating them from playing on online platforms like YouTube.

TV commercials are reviewed by both the Korean Broadcasters Association and the Korean Cable Television Association before they are aired.

The Korea Communications Standards Commission deals with television commercials that have already been aired by ordering the broadcasting stations to delete or modify some parts.

They all follow regulations set by the Broadcasting Act.

However, YouTube is categorized as a value-added common carrier, which follows the Information Network Law ― thus it is not regulated by the Broadcasting Act.

An official from the Korea Advertising Review Board said there are no regulations whatsoever regarding online commercials playing on mobile phones or website platforms including YouTube.

Some commercial producers make separate content for YouTube and online platforms which does not need to follow the regulations of the Broadcasting Act. There are no regulations for YouTube commercials related to the Information Network Law so far.

Media experts warn that YouTube commercials containing lascivious content and sexist remarks have been increasing consistently although there have been no legal regulations imposed against them.

Now that people watch YouTube and online content more than television programs, regulation is required.

Choi Woo-jeong, a professor of the Department of Police Administration at Keimyung University, said commercials should all be regulated under one law as there isn't a big difference between the platforms on which they are aired.

“Commercials should be regulated according to the type of content, not the type of platforms they are played on. In European countries, YouTube commercials are subject to legal control if they have the power to reach a vast audience,” Choi said.