South Korea\'s Broadcast Media Communication Deliberation Committee issued a statutory sanction of caution to four business TV programmes for repeatedly showing QR codes linking to paid open chatrooms and guiding viewers to join. It said the content amounted to overt recruitment akin to a stock tip room and will be closely monitored. The panel also cautioned two home-shopping broadcasts for presenting a general food product like a health functional food.

Rapolabs, which is pursuing the acquisition of SK Stoa, withdrew its application for approval to change the home-shopping broadcaster’s largest shareholder. The Korea Communications Commission ended its review process after being notified of the withdrawal. A review panel had said Rapolabs’ financing and operating plans did not meet approval standards. Rapolabs said it has not abandoned the acquisition and plans to reapply after revising its contract with SK Telecom.