"Ruining One Person Completely" Hong Hye-gul Responds to Controversy with Yeo Esther

Former MFDS Director Filed Police Complaint Against Yeo Esther Last Month
Yeo Esther: "Repeated Complaints Despite Responses of No Legal Violations"

Family medicine specialist and broadcaster Yeo Esther has been embroiled in allegations of false and exaggerated advertising, and her husband Hong Hye-gul has posted a statement to clarify the situation.

Dr. Hong, a medical doctor, wrote on his social media on the 10th, "After much consideration, I am posting my wife's explanation regarding the illegal advertising articles about Esther Formula that have been heavily reported in the media," adding, "I believed that remaining silent and just waiting for the law's judgment amid malicious lawsuits and accusations was not the right approach."

He continued, "So far, only two media outlets have contacted my wife for her side of the story," and criticized, "All other newspapers and broadcasters have unilaterally reported only the accuser's claims, destroying one person's reputation." He then asked for understanding, saying, "I am posting this with the hope that at least you will know the truth, and I kindly ask for your generous understanding."

Mr. and Mrs. Yeo Esther. [Image source=Captured from Yeo's SNS]

Earlier, former Ministry of Food and Drug Safety official A filed a police complaint against Yeo on the 13th of last month, accusing her of violating the Food Labeling and Advertising Act. He claimed that Yeo engaged in false and exaggerated advertising while selling health functional foods, violating the Food Labeling and Advertising Act.

In response, Yeo stated, "A former Ministry of Food and Drug Safety official filed a police complaint alleging that I deceived consumers by using my status as a doctor and falsely advertised more than half of the products sold on Esther Mall as disease prevention and treatment agents," adding, "The claims that the accuser says are illegal are completely untrue."

She clarified, "I want to make it clear that all advertisements for Esther Formula have undergone review by the Health Functional Food Association, the official agency entrusted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to review advertisements," and explained, "Most of what the accuser claims to be illegal are actually phrases from a magazine we operated to provide health information to consumers, not descriptions of the products we sell."

According to Yeo, the accuser received a response stating that "there is no legal violation regarding complaints related to Esther Formula," yet despite being aware of this, sent 39 repeated complaints over about three months.

Yeo said, "If our wrongdoing is proven, we will of course accept the appropriate punishment and take social responsibility," and added, "I trust that the investigative authorities will make a wise judgment regarding this complaint, and depending on the outcome, we will strictly hold the accuser legally accountable."