Neck Pillow Doctor Fake Practice
- SEOUL, South Korea (may 4, 2025) – The rise of social media has brought with it a concerning trend: unlicensed individuals posing as medical professionals, offering advice and...
- Kim Mo, a 30-year-old office worker in Seoul, sought relief from chronic neck and waist pain.
- He was not a licensed doctor, and his account was subsequently deleted.Despite this,some users continue to believe the recommendations originated from a legitimate medical professional.
Table of Contents
- Social Media Scams: Unlicensed Medical Advice Spreads Online
- Social Media Scams: Your Questions Answered
- What’s Happening wiht Medical Advice on Social Media?
- what is an Example of This?
- Who is Most Affected by Unlicensed Medical Advice?
- How Widespread is This Problem?
- Why Does This Happen?
- What are the Legal Ramifications in South Korea?
- What Defines a “Medical act”?
- What Should I Do if I Suspect Unlicensed Medical Practice?
- What About Licensed Medical Professionals?
- Summary: Key Things to Remember
SEOUL, South Korea (may 4, 2025) – The rise of social media has brought with it a concerning trend: unlicensed individuals posing as medical professionals, offering advice and recommending products, leading to potential consumer harm and confusion.
The Case of ‘Mr. A’
Kim Mo, a 30-year-old office worker in Seoul, sought relief from chronic neck and waist pain. On the social network ‘Thread,’ Kim encountered an individual identifying himself as “Mr. A,” a family medicine specialist. Mr. A recommended a product, claiming to have consulted with an orthopedic surgeon. “I asked a friend who is an orthopedic surgeon,” Mr. A stated in his post.
Though, Mr. A’s claims were false. He was not a licensed doctor, and his account was subsequently deleted.Despite this,some users continue to believe the recommendations originated from a legitimate medical professional.
Growing Trend of Unlicensed Medical Practice
The medical community reports a growing number of instances of unlicensed medical practice occurring through social media platforms. These cases often involve individuals providing medical counseling or recommending products without proper credentials. While authorities can delete fraudulent accounts, providing relief to victims remains challenging.
Accounts for Sale
Mr. B, who operates a beauty clinic in the Seoul metropolitan area, noted an increase in accounts being sold to promote nutrients and health supplements. “In recent years,more accounts are being sold to sell nutrients and health functional foods,such as ‘doctors’ and ‘pharmacist’,” Mr.B said.
According to an individual identified only as C, “It is difficult for the general public to distinguish whether it is a real medical person or not on SNS.”
Legal Ramifications
South Korean law strictly prohibits unlicensed medical practice. Article 27 of the Medical Law states that only licensed medical professionals can perform medical acts. Violators face imprisonment of up to five years or fines reaching 50 million won (approximately $38,000 USD), as outlined in Article 87 of the Medical Law.
ministry of Health and Welfare Response
An official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare emphasized the broad definition of medical acts.”Medical acts include not only medical examination and treatment but also medical counseling,” the official stated.
The ministry encourages victims or witnesses of unlicensed medical practice to report such incidents to their local public health center or directly to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Restrictions on Medical Professionals
Even licensed medical professionals face legal restrictions regarding product promotion. Article 56 of the Medical Law prohibits medical workers from exaggerating or falsely advertising specific products.Violations can result in imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won (approximately $7,600 USD).
Are you concerned about getting medical advice online? This article addresses the growing issue of unlicensed individuals posing as medical professionals on social media and the potential dangers involved,based on a May 4,2025,report from Seoul,South Korea.
The rise of social media has opened a new avenue for unlicensed individuals to offer medical advice and recommend products. This trend is leading to potential consumer harm and confusion, as people may be misled into believing the advice comes from qualified professionals.
what is an Example of This?
Q: Can you give a specific example of this issue?
In Seoul, a 30-year-old office worker named Kim Mo sought help for chronic neck and waist pain on the social network ‘Thread.’ Kim encountered an individual known as “Mr. A,” who claimed to be a family medicine specialist. Mr. A recommended a product, stating he had consulted with an orthopedic surgeon. Mr. A’s claims were later found to be false,and his account was deleted. However, some users continued to believe his recommendations were legitimate.
Who is Most Affected by Unlicensed Medical Advice?
Q: Who is most vulnerable to falling for this type of scam?
The general public faces difficulty in distinguishing between real medical professionals and those who are not, according to an individual identified only as C. This lack of clear verification on social media puts vulnerable individuals at risk.
How Widespread is This Problem?
Q: Is this a common issue?
Yes, the medical community reports a growing number of instances of unlicensed medical practice on social media platforms. These cases often involve individuals providing medical counseling or recommending products without the proper credentials.
Why Does This Happen?
Q: Why are unlicensed individuals doing this?
One observed trend is the sale of social media accounts to promote products. Mr. B, who operates a beauty clinic in Seoul, noted an increase in accounts, with some posing as doctors or pharmacists, being sold to market nutrients and health supplements.
What are the Legal Ramifications in South Korea?
Q: What are the legal consequences of providing unlicensed medical advice in South Korea?
South Korean law strictly prohibits unlicensed medical practice.
Q: What specifically does the law say?
Article 27 of the Medical Law states that only licensed medical professionals can perform medical acts. Violators can face imprisonment of up to five years or fines of up to 50 million won (approximately $38,000 USD), as outlined in Article 87 of the Medical Law.
What Defines a “Medical act”?
Q: What actions are considered “medical acts” under the law?
An official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare emphasized the broad definition of medical acts, including medical examination, treatment, and medical counseling.
What Should I Do if I Suspect Unlicensed Medical Practice?
Q: Where can I report suspected cases of unlicensed medical practice?
The Ministry of Health and Welfare encourages victims and witnesses to report incidents to their local public health center or directly to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
What About Licensed Medical Professionals?
Q: Are licensed medical professionals also subject to regulations about product promotion?
Yes.Licensed medical professionals are also subject to legal restrictions.
Q: What specific regulations apply to licensed professionals?
Article 56 of the Medical Law prohibits medical workers from exaggerating or falsely advertising specific products. Violations can result in imprisonment of up to one year or a fine up to 10 million won (approximately $7,600 USD).
Summary: Key Things to Remember
Here’s a speedy summary of the key points:
| Aspect | Details |
| ——————— | —————————————————————————————————————————— |
| Issue | Unlicensed individuals offering medical advice and recommendations on social media. |
| Consequence | Potential consumer harm,confusion,and misinformation. |
| Legal Ramifications | Strict prohibition of unlicensed medical practice in South Korea, with severe penalties including fines and imprisonment. |
| Reporting | Encouraged to report suspected incidents to local health centers or the Ministry of Health and Welfare. |
| Licensed Prof. | Are restricted from falsely advertising or exaggerating products.|