- Corrective Order and Fine Imposed for False, Exaggerated, and Misleading Advertisements -
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (Chairman Han Ki-jung, hereinafter “KFTC”) has decided to impose a corrective order (including a public announcement order) and a fine of 109 million KRW on ST Unitas Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Gongdangi”) for engaging in false, exaggerated, and misleading advertising.(2025.2.3)
ST Unitas provides educational content for adults preparing for civil service exams, public enterprises, and other fields through both online and offline platforms under the well-known brand "Gongdangi," which stands for "Gongmuwondangi School" (Civil Service Exam School).
1. False and Misleading Advertisement of Pass Rates
From June 7, 2021, to August 30, 2021, Gongdangi advertised its civil service exam pass rates on its official website (https://gong.conect.com), falsely claiming that 70% or 80% of all successful candidates in IT (computer science), social welfare, and nursing sectors were its students without any objective basis.
Later, when it added the basis for its claims, it deliberately concealed and minimized the visibility of the information by using small fonts and background colors similar to the text color, making it difficult for consumers to recognize the actual facts.
2. Deceptive Advertising of "No.1" Claims
During the same period (June 7, 2021 – August 30, 2021), Gongdangi advertised itself as “No.1 in Exam Prep Books,” “No.1 in Sales,” and “No.1 in Student Enrollment” on its website. However, the company concealed the limitations of the data by displaying the supporting information in small fonts and background colors similar to the text color, making it difficult for consumers to recognize that these rankings were based on highly restricted criteria.
3. Consumer Impact and Violation of Fair Trade Practices
Information such as "student pass rates" and "rankings in a specific category" is crucial for consumers who are considering purchasing online civil service exam courses.
By falsely advertising these key factors and concealing important details, Gongdangi misled consumers into:
- Believing that 70–80% of all successful candidates in certain civil service exam categories were Gongdangi students.
- Misinterpreting the "No.1" ranking claims as absolute and broadly applicable rather than being based on highly limited conditions.
Such deceptive practices distort consumer perception, influence purchasing decisions, and disrupt fair competition in the civil service exam preparation market. The KFTC, therefore, determined that Gongdangi’s advertisements constituted false, exaggerated, and misleading advertising.
4. Significance of the Ruling
This ruling strictly sanctions deceptive advertising practices that mislead consumers in the competitive online civil service exam preparation industry. By imposing a corrective order and a fine, the KFTC aims to curb reckless advertising tactics and ensure transparency in online educational services.
Moving forward, the KFTC will continue to monitor unfair advertising practices in the online education market to ensure that consumers receive accurate and reliable information, thereby fostering a trustworthy consumer environment.