The South Korean government has recently issued fresh guidelines aimed at discouraging YouTubers from hosting drinking talk shows, a move viewed by some as challenging to enforce.

Parents are concerned that such portrayals might lead their children to develop a favorable perception of excessive drinking culture.

Furthermore, the current state of monitoring and enforcement of age-related restrictions for alcohol-related content on digital platforms, including YouTube, remains inadequate. This laxity in regulation allows underage viewers to readily access content that prominently features alcohol, raising significant concerns about its influence on impressionable audiences.

In response to these apprehensions, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Promotion Institute have incorporated two additional provisions into their media guidelines, bringing the total to 12. The revised guidelines were unveiled last Thursday.

One provision recommends that shows should "minimize the exposure of content excessively highlighting or glorifying drinking to children and teenagers by implementing measures like age restrictions." The second advises that "the adverse effects of drinking should be conveyed, for instance, through warning texts, particularly in scenes that excessively highlight or glorify drinking."

Prominent shows that fall under the drinking show category includes Shin Dong Yeop's 'Zzanbro,' Lee Young Ji's 'No Prepare,' Sung Si Kyung's 'Grab a Bite,' and SUGA's 'Suchwita'.'

Despite concerns, these shows have amassed substantial viewership and subscriber numbers. For instance, the Zzanbro YouTube channel has attracted 858,000 followers in just three months since its launch.

A representative from the Ministry of Health emphasized that the new guidelines were crafted with consideration for YouTube and online streaming services. They noted, "While drinking scenes are prevalent on YouTube, as they cannot be regulated by law, revisions were made to the guidelines to encourage voluntary restraint."