AI-Generated Ads Falsely Depicted Lee Ji-hye Endorsing Food and Clothing
South Korean entertainer Lee Ji-hye reported that AI-generated advertisements using her likeness without permission were circulating online to promote food and clothing products. She warned fans the endorsements were fake and urged them not to click suspicious links or purchase from the ads.
What happened
On 17 June 2026, Lee Ji-hye revealed through social media that AI-generated advertisements using her likeness without permission were circulating online.
The advertisements promoted food and clothing products, including underwear, and appeared to originate from a Chinese website despite being written in Korean.
Lee Ji-hye shared screenshots of the fake ads and stated she had received numerous direct messages from fans asking about the endorsements in recent weeks.
Reported impact
Lee Ji-hye stated that none of the promotions were genuine and warned fans not to click on suspicious links or purchase products advertised through the posts.
The misuse of her image without consent raised concerns among the singer about privacy and the unauthorized use of her likeness for fraudulent endorsements.
Index analysis
The incident reflects a wider problem in the South Korean entertainment industry, where AI tools have been increasingly used to create misleading content featuring celebrities without their consent.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.