Junk Food TV Ads Allegedly Targets Children

A study found that TV commercials of fast food, also called “junk food,” were heavily scheduled during peak program times for children.

On Mar. 14, the Citizens` Alliance for Consumer Protection of Korea announced that it analyzed the TV ads aired during the hours when most children’s programs are broadcasted on three major broadcasters, KBS2, MBC, and SBS, from Feb. 27 to Mar. 4, to celebrate World Consumer Rights Day on Mar. 15. It revealed that 124 out of 247 food commercials (50.2%) were ads for hamburgers, pizza, fried chicken, and other types of fast food.

The civic group added that it monitored ads on SBS from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and those on KBS and MBC from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

wiseweb@donga.com