[Sportschosun Jo Min-jung reporter] A controversy over a 'home shopping-linked programming' arrangement surrounding the health food brand run by broadcaster Jang Young-ran is spreading again.
On the 10th, the whistleblower YouTuber Death Fox released a follow-up exposé video on his YouTube channel about Jang Young-ran's brand, Youngra New.
Jang Young-ran had previously faced allegations of 'deceiving viewers' by linking a TV program with home shopping to sell health food products and by using weight-loss success stories. At the time the allegations surfaced, her side denied them, saying, "I have never been involved in the production process or in casting the guests." However, Death Fox has now made new claims, saying he obtained a program proposal, scripts, and feedback exchanged with the production team.
According to the video, Jang Young-ran's side sent the broadcaster specific revision requests, including points such as emphasizing 'toxic buildup in the body' and 'content related to specific diseases.' Some of those changes were reportedly reflected in the actual broadcast. Based on this, Death Fox argued, "This contradicts the previous explanation that there was no involvement in production."
At the center of the controversy was one weight-loss success story. In tvN (Total Variety Network)'s "The Power of Superfoods," which aired in December 2024, a regular guest appeared claiming to have lost 23 kilograms through a specific ingredient. Around the same time, Jang Young-ran appeared on home shopping and sold her own product containing the same ingredient.
The problem is that the program was filmed before the product was launched. According to Death Fox, filming took place around December 11, 2024, while the product was not released until after December 25. In other words, he argued that it was effectively impossible for the guest to have claimed success from consuming a product that did not even exist at the time of filming. He also pointed out that the guest had previously appeared on other programs and introduced different products as the secret to weight loss.
Regarding the controversy, Jang Young-ran's side is said to have conveyed its position to Death Fox in March.
Death Fox said, "Jang Young-ran's side acknowledged that it had not fully recognized the seriousness of the issue during the linked broadcast process and said it would stop related programming in the future." He added that no broadcast scheduling linked to Jang Young-ran's brand has been confirmed over the past two months. When the allegations were first raised, Jang Young-ran had explained, "We complied with the relevant rules and guidelines," and "I was not involved in production or guest casting."
Meanwhile, Jang Young-ran remains active across a range of variety shows and YouTube.
Jo Min-jung reporter mj.cho@sportschosun.com
