Lee Ji-hye Latest Celebrity Victim of Image Theft for Fake Ads
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- South Korean singer Lee Ji-hye has become the latest victim of unauthorized use of her image for fake advertisements on social media.
- Lee shared a screenshot of a fraudulent ad on her personal Instagram, warning followers not to click the provided link or make purchases.
- This incident follows a similar case involving YouTuber Kwak Tube, highlighting a growing problem of celebrity image theft for deceptive online promotions.
South Korean singer Lee Ji-hye has publicly denounced the misuse of her image for deceptive online advertisements, a growing concern amplified by recent incidents involving public figures. Lee, a former member of the K-pop group "Sharp," took to her personal Instagram account on June 17 to expose a fake advertisement that falsely used her likeness.
"This is not an advertisement I filmed," Lee stated on her social media, expressing distress over the increasing number of direct messages she has received regarding the fraudulent promotion. She strongly cautioned her followers, "You absolutely must not click on that link and purchase anything."
This is not an advertisement I filmed. I've been getting a lot of DMs lately.
The incident echoes a similar case involving popular YouTuber Kwak Tube, who also recently fell victim to image theft for similar deceptive online schemes. The repeated exploitation of celebrities' images for fake endorsements underscores a significant issue of online fraud and the challenges faced by public figures in protecting their personal brand and preventing consumer deception.
You absolutely must not click on that link and purchase anything.
Originally published by Chosun Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.