"I Paid for It Myself, but I Wasn't Careful"... Han Ga-in Apologizes Two Years Later Over 'Oral Albumin' [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Actress Han Ga-in has formally apologized amid controversy over exaggerated advertising surrounding the 'oral albumin' product she recommended on YouTube. While making clear that she bought it herself and received no sponsorship or compensation, she bowed her head for introducing a health-related product based solely on her personal experience without medical or objective verification. The incident has drawn attention to the actual efficacy of 'oral albumin,' which has recently spread like a trend in the health functional food market.
On the 28th, Han Ga-in said through her YouTube channel 'Han Ga In's Free Woman,' "I started buying and taking it as part of my daily routine when I felt my energy decline after giving birth, and I recommended it because I felt my condition improve," but added, "I realized how cautious one must be when sharing information without rigorous verification and relying on subjective personal impressions. I sincerely apologize for causing confusion and concern."
In an earlier video, Han Ga-in introduced the product and said to the effect that "it definitely works when you can't get an IV drip" and that it was "good for men." However, Samang Fox TV, a YouTube channel specializing in reporting false and exaggerated advertising, analyzed the product's ingredients and pointed out that it was difficult to expect such effects medically. It also noted that the product was actually classified as an ordinary 'mixed beverage,' not a Health Functional Food or a pharmaceutical.

Albumin is a protein synthesized mainly in the liver and accounts for about 50% to 60% of total serum protein. It maintains osmotic pressure within blood vessels, preventing bodily fluids from escaping, and serves as a kind of 'delivery person' that transports various nutrients, hormones, and medications throughout the body's tissues.
Albumin injections administered in hospitals are prescription medicines delivered directly into the bloodstream. They are prescribed to normalize plasma osmotic pressure when albumin levels in the body fall to dangerous levels due to cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, massive blood loss, or other conditions.
By contrast, commercially available 'oral albumin' products work through a completely different mechanism from an IV drip. When albumin, a type of protein, is taken by mouth, digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract break it down into peptides or amino acids, which are then absorbed. In other words, it is impossible for albumin to be absorbed into the bloodstream in its original molecular form and immediately raise serum albumin levels or produce the same plasma osmotic pressure-regulating effect as an IV drip.

Medical experts agree that generally healthy adults without liver disease, serious kidney disease, or severe malnutrition do not need to seek out albumin products separately. Because protein is the basic building block of albumin, the liver can synthesize enough of it through a balanced everyday diet that includes eggs, chicken breast, meat, and legumes. Egg whites, in particular, are a representative food rich in albumin.
In addition, many albumin products currently sold on the market are classified as ordinary foods, such as 'other processed foods' or 'mixed beverages,' rather than Health Functional Foods whose functionality and safety have been recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said, "Making ordinary food appear to be a pharmaceutical or Health Functional Food with immediate effects on chronic fatigue recovery, immune-system enhancement, or the prevention or treatment of specific diseases constitutes unfair advertising." The official urged consumers, "When purchasing products, be sure to check the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's certification mark and do not be misled by exaggerated phrases such as 'IV drip replacement' or 'a special remedy for fatigue recovery.'"
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter