The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Rising Sun Flag promotional video that appeared on YouTube in Korea is controversial.
While emphasizing that it is a 'traditional pattern' and introducing it as a symbol of good catch and prosperity, it does not say that the rising sun flag started as a Japanese military flag and was present at the scene of war crimes.
It is not to say that the Rising Sun flag is still used at the scene of 'anti-Korean protests' that express hatred against Koreans.
The problem is that the promotional videos of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs are randomly exposed and are used as 'advertisements' that users can't help but watch even if they don't want to.
[Kim Hyeon-jong / Researcher, VANK, Cyber Diplomatic Delegation]
"The flag used in the imperialist war of aggression and the Japanese war caused more than 20 million deaths in Asia. I think it's in the Japanese government."
The comfort women and forced labor victims who are victims of the war are still alive. Is this okay?
I directly asked Google Korea if the advertisement was appropriate in light of the company's policy, and the answer was 'I have nothing to say'.
[Google Korea PR agency official]
"We don't have anything special to offer right now...|"
[Reporter Baekwoon]
"Doesn't it have to be viewed as an exposure because there was nothing to do with the policy?"
[Google Korea PR agency official]
"I don't know about that.
I don't think I'm in a situation where I can tell you anything...
"
So, I looked up Google's advertising policy.
We are here to inform you that we value diversity and respect for others and are working hard to ensure that users are not offended.
It also states that it does not allow ads that promote hate, bigotry, discrimination or violence.
[Lim Jong-soo / Professor of Media Communication at Sejong University]
“It’s very unfortunate as a Korean, but I think YouTube has decided that this (inappropriate content) does not correspond to that. Such a pattern. If the pattern had been advertised as ‘a kind of human asset’ for various reasons, would it have been published on YouTube…” The
cyber diplomacy delegation VANK sent a letter of protest to YouTube and asked for a ban on the Rising Sun Flag advertisement. While conducting a global petition, it is asking netizens to protest by reporting inappropriate advertisements and sending their opinions.
After the coverage began, Google Korea through an e-mail further revealed that internal discussions were ongoing about the adequacy of the advertisement itself.
Even if it's a little late, wouldn't it be necessary for an answer that Korean users could understand?
Composition: Baekwoon Kim Yumi / Video coverage: Hong Jong-su / Editing: Kim Choa / CG Sung Jae-eun Ahn Ji-hyeon