(G)I-DLE member Miyeon is facing a police investigation over a YouTube video that showed her undergoing a health checkup and sleep endoscopy. The video, released on September 1, displayed the hospital’s name, medical staff, interior facilities, and a “specialized hospital” sign, leading a viewer to file a petition on September 7. The production team denied receiving any advertising fees or sponsorship from the clinic, but Seoul’s Yongsan-gu Public Health Center referred the case to police on September 16 after saying it could not independently determine whether the medical institution was involved or if any money changed hands.
What Happened in Miyeon Health Checkup Video
The YouTube channel Jeondosa (전도사) launched on August 31 with Miyeon as its main host. The first episode, titled “[SUB] (G)I-DLE Miyeon, Turning 30 First Health Checkup, Did I Talk Nonsense? | Jeondosa EP.0,” was uploaded on September 1 and showed the singer receiving her first comprehensive health checkup since debuting, including a gastroscopy under sedation.
During the video, Miyeon mentioned she had never had a health checkup since her debut and was worried about what she might say while sedated. She reported symptoms including chronic fatigue, dry eyes, and frequent urination. After the examination, her doctor said there were mild signs of esophagitis but no major abnormalities.
The initial version of the video showed scenes of a sedative being administered, the endoscope being inserted through her mouth, and the interior of the medical facility in Seoul’s Yongsan district. The hospital’s name, its medical staff, and a sign reading “Health Checkup Center, Specialty Hospital for Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy” were all visible.
Petition Filed Over Medical Advertising Concerns
A viewer identified only as “A” filed a petition through South Korea’s national e-People portal on September 7, asking the Yongsan-gu Public Health Center to determine whether the video violated the Medical Service Act.
The complaint raised two main issues. The first was whether the phrase “specialized hospital” was used in line with actual requirements for that designation. The second was that the examination process, including the administration of the sedative and the insertion of the endoscope, was shown without any blurring.
Under Article 56, Paragraph 1 of South Korea’s Medical Service Act, only medical professionals and authorized entities are allowed to advertise medical services. Paragraph 2, Item 6 also prohibits advertisements that directly display surgical or treatment procedures, even when the advertisement is conducted by a medical professional. Violations can carry a penalty of up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million KRW (approximately 7,242 USD).
Production Team Denies Advertising and Sponsorship
The Jeondosa production team released an official statement on September 8 denying any advertising or sponsorship relationship with the hospital. The team said the health checkup episode was not planned to promote a specific medical institution but was made to document Miyeon’s actual experience.
“This EP.0 Health Checkup episode was also not planned to promote a specific medical institution but was produced to document the cast member’s actual health checkup process and experience,” the statement read. “There is no fact that the medical institution where the filming took place requested advertising, promotion, or production of the content. No financial compensation or economic support, such as content production costs, advertising fees, or sponsorship fees, was received”.
The production team also stated that it personally paid for Miyeon’s health checkup and medical costs and had no intention to recommend or promote any specific medical facility or staff. However, the team acknowledged that in the initially released video, information identifying the medical institution was not sufficiently blurred.
Additional blurring and corrective measures were applied after the teaser’s release was reviewed. The team pledged to be more careful in planning, production, and pre-release review processes going forward.
Yongsan Health Center Refers Case to Police
The Yongsan-gu Public Health Center announced on September 16 that it had requested a police investigation into the matter. The center explained that it was difficult to independently determine whether the medical institution was directly involved in producing the content or whether any compensation had been provided.
“It is difficult to determine how much the hospital was involved in the medical advertising-like content shown in the video and whether money changed hands in return,” a Yongsan-gu Public Health Center official explained.
Separately, the health center issued administrative guidance to the medical institution featured in the video, ordering it to immediately correct its use of the term “specialized hospital.” Under South Korean law, only hospitals that meet specific requirements and are designated by the Minister of Health and Welfare can use that title.
The case was referred to police based on the complaint filed through the national petition system. Police are expected to investigate whether the content legally constitutes medical advertising and how extensively the hospital was involved in the production.
Jeondosa Delays Upcoming Episodes
The controversy has affected the release schedule of other episodes on the Jeondosa channel. The production team announced on September 15 that the episode featuring the group RIIZE, originally planned for release that day, would be postponed. The team cited a need for a more thorough review process.
Under the revised schedule, the TREASURE episode will be released on September 22, and the RIIZE episode will follow on September 29, two weeks later than originally planned.
The video featuring Miyeon has drawn more than 1.42 million views as of September 9.
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Background on the Channel and the Star
Jeondosa is a wellness-themed YouTube channel covering topics related to health, beauty, and inner beauty. The channel launched with Miyeon as its central figure, and the health checkup episode was the first full-length content released after a teaser that surpassed 1 million views.
Miyeon, whose full name is Cho Mi-yeon, debuted with (G)I-DLE in 2018. She turned 30 in 2026, the age at which she received her first comprehensive health checkup, as documented in the video. The singer has also pursued acting and hosting roles alongside her music career.
The police investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed. The outcome will depend on whether authorities determine that the video amounted to medical advertising and whether any financial exchange between the production team and the hospital can be established.
Also Read: (G)I-DLE’s “Nxde” Music Video Reaches 400 Million Views on YouTube
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