Lee Ji-hye, a former member of the group S#arp and now a TV personality, issued a stark warning about sham ads illegally using her face.
On the 17th, Lee posted on Instagram, saying, "This is not an ad I filmed," urging fans to be cautious. She added that "inquiries have been pouring into my DMs lately" and stressed, "Do not click that link or make a purchase under any circumstances."
The photos she shared showed ad screens using Lee's face to push specific products like sweet potatoes and underwear. Her YouTube channel appeared at the bottom as if it were the source, but they were not real ads she shot. The ads are suspected to be AI-made composites using Lee's image.
Lee explained, "It seems to connect to some Chinese site," adding, "It's written in Korean, but if you look closely, something feels off." She vented her frustration, saying, "I have no idea who made this, but it's really the worst."
Using someone else's face without permission for product sales or scammy promotions can violate portrait rights and constitute defamation by spreading false information.
Meanwhile, Lee Ji-hye married tax accountant Moon Jae-wan in 2017 and has two daughters. She remains active on TV and YouTube.