"Why is a Hangang River water temperature feature here?" Toss app pulls service after controversy in a day

[The Financial News] A feature that shows the water temperature of the Hangang River was added to Toss’s in-app market service "App in Toss," but it was suspended after just one day following public backlash.
According to industry sources on the 20th, a mini app called "Hangang River Water Temperature Check" was recently registered on App in Toss, Toss’s open platform. It was posted with a description saying users could check the water temperature of the Hangang River, and the service updated the river’s temperature at regular intervals based on data from Jungnangcheon and other points.
The controversy arose because among stock and virtual asset investors, "checking the Hangang River water temperature" is widely used as slang implying taking one’s own life after an investment failure. As a result, online communities and social networking service (SNS) platforms were flooded with criticism that the feature was making light of death.
App in Toss is an open structure within the Toss platform that allows external developers to directly register their services, and the number of available services has been growing rapidly. While it had been praised for enabling apps based on diverse ideas, the latest controversy has highlighted the importance of content oversight.
As the backlash spread, Toss halted exposure of the mini app. A Toss representative explained, "As the weather warmed up, we approved the app after seeing its description as an outdoor information service, but it was a mistake not to fully consider users’ sensitivities," adding, "Once the controversy emerged, we immediately terminated the partnership."
Meanwhile, an internet user who identified themselves as the developer of the app wrote on SNS, "I have confirmed that unexpected controversy has arisen over the ‘Hangang River’ service I recently created," and clarified, "The service was developed purely for personal hobby, fishing, and leisure purposes, and there was absolutely no intention to affect any particular individual or brand."

They continued, "However, recognizing that the service could cause confusion or discomfort for some users, I have requested that it be suspended," and added, "I regret that this situation has occurred, and I will be more cautious in the future to prevent similar misunderstandings."
bng@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Hee-sun Reporter