Urban Zakapa Park Yong-in indicted without detention on charges of false and exaggerated advertising

While Park Yong-in of the group Urban Zakapa was indicted without detention on charges of false and exaggerated advertising, he opened up about the controversy.

Park Yong-in said, "With the goal of providing a new sensory experience to consumers, we planned a beer and developed a product with a soft and greasy flavor in beer. In the process, many people said that it had a smooth flavor like butter. Accordingly, our company developed this beer. Introducing that you can feel a soft flavor like butter. This is an expression to emphasize the characteristics of the product, just as it is said that you can feel the flavor of flowers, fruits, chocolate, nuts, and trees in favorite foods such as alcohol and coffee, even if they do not actually contain the corresponding ingredients. “It was,” he said.

He continued, "Some controversy was raised regarding the expression 'butter beer.' This beer is intended only for adult consumers and the raw materials were accurately labeled in accordance with relevant laws. Nevertheless, in accordance with the guidance of the relevant authorities, in order to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and further controversy, we have already “We immediately changed the advertising text ‘Butter Beer’ and added butter to all products produced thereafter,” he said.

In addition, they announced, "The prosecution has a different opinion from ours and has requested a trial from the court. We will faithfully participate in the upcoming trial process, fully explain that it was not an attempt to mislead consumers, and make up for any shortcomings."

On the 2nd, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutor's Office's Criminal Division 1 (Chief Kim Young-nam) charged Virtua Company, the manufacturer of 'BEURRE beer', also known as 'butter beer', and CEO Park Yong-in (36) with violating the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Food, etc. on the 29th of last month. He said he was indicted without detention on the charges.

Virtua Company advertised its products using phrases containing butter during sales from May 2022 to January of last year.

Accordingly, in March last year, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety filed a criminal complaint against Virtua Company, the manufacturer, Buruguru, and the distributor, GS Retail, for violating the Labeling and Advertising Act. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety judged that although the product did not contain butter in beer, it was an act of false and exaggerated advertising for including 'BEURRE', which means butter, in the product name.

Reporter Junho Yoon, Ten Asia delo410@tenasia.co.kr