Park Yong-in, a member of Urban Zakapa and CEO of Virtue Company. [Herald Muse]
Park Yong-in, a member of Urban Zakapa and CEO of Virtue Company. [Herald Muse]

Park Yong-in, a member of the music group Urban Zakapa and CEO of Virtue Company, received a suspended sentence for the second time Friday after an appeals court upheld his conviction over the marketing of a beer advertised as containing butter when it did not.

The third criminal appeals division of the Seoul Eastern District Court dismissed prosecutors' appeal and upheld the original sentence of eight months in prison, suspended for two years, in the case against Park, who was indicted on charges of violating the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods.

"Given that this case does not involve harmful ingredients in the food itself, but rather an incorrect labeling of raw materials, it is difficult to view the original sentence as excessively lenient," the court said.

An advertisement for "Butter Beer," a product developed by Virtue Company, whose CEO is Urban Zakapa member Park Yong-in. [GS25]
An advertisement for "Butter Beer," a product developed by Virtue Company, whose CEO is Urban Zakapa member Park Yong-in. [GS25]

Park and Virtue Company were indicted on charges of advertising a butter-free beer under names including "Butter Beer," "BUTTER BEER" and "Butter Base" through convenience stores and other retail channels from May 2022 to January 2023.

The product sold out its initial run of 200,000 cans within a week of launch, drawing wide interest from the MZ generation. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety filed a complaint with police in March 2023 against Virtue Company, manufacturer Buruguru and distributor GS Retail, triggering a formal investigation.

The trial court found that the advertising constituted false and exaggerated claims that could lead consumers to believe the product contained butter. It also noted that Park's status as a well-known singer may have influenced consumer perception.

The trial court sentenced Park to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and fined Virtue Company 10 million won ($6,470).

Park debuted as a member of Urban Zakapa in 2009 and has since been recognized for a number of hit songs.


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