Miyeon of (G)I-DLE under investigation for medical advertising controversy

The Yongsan-gu Health Center in Seoul has requested a police investigation into a YouTube video featuring Miyeon, a member of the K-pop group (G)I-DLE, regarding potential violations of medical advertising laws.

The video, posted on the YouTube channel ‘Jeondosa’, depicts Miyeon undergoing a health checkup and a sedative endoscopy at a medical facility in Yongsan-gu. While the content garnered over 1.4 million views, it faced public complaints alleging that the video functioned as indirect medical advertising. Under Article 56 of the Medical Service Act, third parties are prohibited from advertising medical services, and even legitimate advertisements are restricted from showing explicit medical procedures.

The health center stated it could not independently determine if the medical institution was involved in the video's production or if any compensation was exchanged, prompting the referral to the police. Additionally, the center issued administrative guidance to correct the facility's description, as it was referred to as a ‘specialized hospital’ despite being registered as a clinic.

Production staff for ‘Jeondosa’ have denied any wrongdoing, stating they received no financial support or sponsorship from the medical institution and that all medical expenses were paid directly by the crew.