"Child ADHD Caused by 'Left-Right Brain Imbalance'... False and Exaggerated Advertising Companies Sanctioned"

Fair Trade Commission Corrective Measures for Pyeonduri and Suinjae Brain Science
"Continuous Monitoring of Unfair Advertising in Alternative Medicine in Medical Law Blind Spots"

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Fair Trade Commission imposed corrective orders on Pyeonduri and Suinjae Brain Science, service providers of pediatric mental and developmental disorder improvement programs, for false and exaggerated advertising. These companies operate services related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, tic disorders, and others.

The Fair Trade Commission judged that Pyeonduri made false and exaggerated advertisements regarding the causes of program-related disorders, the research director's credentials, and the superiority of the program. This behavior violates Article 3 of the Act on Labeling and Advertising (Prohibition of Unfair Labeling and Advertising Acts).

From July 2016 to March last year, Pyeonduri wrote on its website, "The fundamental cause of ADHD, autism, and tic disorders is left-right brain imbalance," and "Numerous hospitals and centers unanimously state that the cause of spectrum disorders is 'left-right brain imbalance.'"

Regarding the research director's credentials, it stated "American functional neurology specialist" and "Completed the functional neurology specialist course."

It described its operating program as "the only brain total care in Korea," "the only scientific and verified integrated program," "the first program in Korea based on functional brain neurology," and "the first introduction of functional neurology in Korea."

Suinjae Brain Science concealed the existence of partner institutions and the verification status of its program, engaging in exaggerated advertising.

From January 2017 to May last year, this company made baseless false and exaggerated advertisements on its website regarding the existence of partner institutions related to pediatric mental and developmental disorder improvement programs and the verification status of the program.

In illustrations indicating partner institutions, it used expressions such as "University of Glasgow" (a prestigious public university in the UK) and "Rehabilitation MedicineI(Hee Pae Cornell University" (Rehabilitation Medicine, Cornell University, a private Ivy League comprehensive university in the US).

Regarding program verification, it exaggerated by stating "scientifically and medically verified methods," "scientifically proven cutting-edge brain training," and "providing brain training programs with clinically verified advanced training devices and consultation from Seoul National University research institute."

The Fair Trade Commission decided to issue corrective orders, future conduct prohibition orders, and public announcement orders to both companies.

Lee Dongmi, head of the Consumer Division at the Seoul Regional Fair Trade Office, explained, "This action is significant in that it sanctions unfair advertising acts that hinder consumers' rational decision-making with false and exaggerated information in the field of alternative medicine, which is outside the scope of medical law."

Lee added, "The Fair Trade Commission plans to continue monitoring unfair advertising acts that mislead consumers with false and exaggerated content in the field of alternative medicine and take measures according to the law."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.