S. Korea to ban ‘backdoor online advertising’ from September

A file photo of a US-based mukbang influencer. One such influencer with 4.7 million viewers recently apologised for being involved in the misleading advertising practice. — Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS

SEOUL: South Korea will ban social media influencers from pitching a new product or service on their online platforms without disclosing their business ties with corporate sponsors, officials said on Aug 12.

The move comes amid controversy over some famous social media influencers’ involvement in the shady practice called “backdoor online advertising”, Yonhap news agency reported.