Han Ga-in releases payment records to refute undisclosed-ad allegations over supplement recommendation

Actor Han Ga-in has responded to allegations of undisclosed advertising after promoting an oral albumin supplement on her YouTube channel, releasing her purchase records to back up her denial.

Han said Tuesday on her YouTube channel "Jayubuyin Han Ga-in" that she was making her purchase history from the past two-plus years public "to clarify the exact facts."

The records show that Han bought three boxes of 30 bottles each — 90 bottles in total — of the albumin product for 616,000 won ($453) in July 2024, before she had even launched her YouTube channel. She uploaded a video introducing the product four months later, in November of that year, and repurchased it in March 2025.

"This product was purchased at my own expense, without any compensation or sponsorship, before the channel was even created," Han said.

Han had also said Monday that the video was "self-purchased content" in which she introduced a product she had bought and used herself, with no payment or sponsorship involved.

"There is absolutely no falsehood regarding whether this was an advertisement," she said, adding that her channel's policy is to clearly label content as "includes paid advertising" whenever a paid promotion is involved so viewers can tell immediately. She acknowledged, however, that regardless of whether it was an ad, "it was careless of me to introduce a health-related product based solely on personal experience."

"Through this incident, I realized how cautious one must be when conveying information based on subjective impressions without rigorous verification," Han said. "I am truly sorry for causing confusion and concern through my lack of careful judgment."

The controversy began after the YouTube channel "Samang Yeowoo" raised allegations of exaggerated advertising claims surrounding oral albumin products, during which Han's 2024 video recommending the same product was brought up.

In that video, Han had said the product "definitely works when you can't get an IV drip," among other claims. The "Samang Yeowoo" channel said its analysis of the product's ingredient list found it difficult to support such effects.

However, "Samang Yeowoo" added that Han had recommended the product only once and that her endorsement was unlikely to be the direct cause of the product's popularity.