K-Traveler Kwak Tube Faces Ethics Probe

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) is reviewing whether the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act (Kim Young-ran Act) applies to a case where the spouse of travel YouTuber Kwak Tube (Kwak Jun-bin) received a complimentary upgrade for a postpartum care center room, despite being a public official. The ACRC's Anti-Corruption and Public Service Integrity Department received the relevant complaint on the 10th and is investigating the applicability of the law.

The complaint inquired about the applicability of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act on six key issues, including: ▲ whether the benefits directly enjoyed by the spouse can be considered as received by the public official themselves, ▲ whether a connection to official duties is recognized if only the YouTuber's promotional effect is expected, and ▲ whether the difference in cost for the upgrade constitutes the value of the monetary gift.

The controversy began when Kwak Tube posted a photo taken at a postpartum care center on the 1st with a "sponsored" hashtag, which was later deleted. His agency, SM C&C, explained, "It was not a full sponsorship, but only a complimentary upgrade for the room and some services," but the controversy grew as the upgrade difference was reported to be between a minimum of 3.6 million won and a maximum of 18.1 million won.

The core of the controversy is that Kwak Tube's spouse is a current public official. Article 8, Paragraph 1 of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act prohibits public officials from receiving money or valuables exceeding 1 million won at once or 3 million won per fiscal year from the same person, regardless of whether it is related to their duties or the name of the gift. Therefore, the key issue is whether the spouse, as a public official, directly enjoying the postpartum care center upgrade can be viewed as 'the public official themselves receiving the money or valuables.'

In an apology statement on the 10th, Kwak Tube claimed, "We confirmed through legal consultation that it is unrelated to the spouse's duties," and announced that he would pay the full controversial difference and donate 30 million won for the support of single mothers.