KFTC Tightens Control over Emigration Packages

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) will tighten its control over “emigration intermediary agencies.” Commercial “emigration packages” to Canada through these mediating agencies are currently in question. “We were on our lookout ever since these agencies first appeared,” a staff at KFTC said Tuesday, adding, “They will be thoroughly investigated if we find any proof of false advertisement.” However, “No evident damage has yet been reported, and any specific investigation will result in significant loss to the firm’s reputation, so careful precautions are being taken,” KFTC continued. Another KFTC personnel said, “If problems continue to arise concerning emigration packages, then there is the possibility it will be inserted in next year’s annual plan of operations.”

Manitoba, Canada announced it would watch over Emintime, a Korean agency mediating emigrants to Canada, for a period of one year, Canadian press and other foreign press released on Monday. Manitoba said Emintime gave out false information about the state in its product commercials.

Should these false advertisements turn out to be illegal, TV home shopping channels and other related firms that participated in the false commercials are likely to be revised. The number of emigrant intermediary agencies this year increased to 69 from 25 as of 1998.

Meanwhile Hmall, the Hyundai home-shopping channel that earned “big-time” revenues by broadcast advertising Emintime’s emigration package from late August to early September, sent the production tapes and translations to Manitoba on Tuesday. Hmall staff explained, “The tapes clearly state that we would not send all of the 4,000 applicants who applied, but finalists would be selected after a screening process by Hmall and Emintime.” Kang Tae-in, president of Hmall, promised “unlimited guarantee” relating to this emigration package earlier this month.

Ki-Jeong Ko Hyung-June Park koh@donga.com lovesong@donga.com