[2026 National Assembly Audit] One in Four YouTube Videos on Senior Health Is an AI Video "Impersonating Doctors"

24 of the 100 Most-Viewed Videos Impersonated Experts
Google Shut Down 10 Channels After the Issue Was Raised

One in four popular YouTube videos about senior health information was an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video impersonating experts such as doctors. As more older adults seek health information, concerns have been raised that public institutions have relied on voluntary self-monitoring, prompting calls for a more proactive response.

Examples of senior health videos featuring people impersonating experts. Office of Rep. Park Yong-gap

According to data submitted by the Korea Health Promotion Institute to Rep. Park Yonggap of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, an analysis of the 100 most-viewed YouTube videos about senior health posted in April 2026 found that 42 were made using generative AI. Of those, 24 impersonated doctors or other experts, while only six featured actual experts.

Some videos used the names of fake experts as account names and exaggerated health information by staging scenes to make it appear that they had personally treated patients in a clinical setting. In some cases, the videos were made using AI but did not disclose this.

Concerns about harm are growing as more older adults use the internet to find health information. According to the Korea Health Promotion Institute’s survey on perceptions of health information, 45.4% of people in their 60s looked for health information at least once a week. As for where they obtained it, 49.7% cited internet portals and 14.4% cited online video platforms such as YouTube.

The current Medical Service Act prohibits people who are not medical personnel from using titles such as doctor or similar titles. The Framework Act on Artificial Intelligence also requires that, when AI-generated videos or other content that are difficult to distinguish from reality are provided, users be clearly notified or the content be labeled so they can identify it as AI-generated.

However, the Korea Health Promotion Institute, which is responsible for responding to harmful health information, has so far relied solely on encouraging information producers to conduct their own checks and voluntarily comply with guidelines. It had not taken any action, such as requesting the removal of videos.

After Rep. Park raised the issue, Google Korea reviewed 100 YouTube videos and 51 channels, shut down 10 channels that violated its guidelines, and removed 31 videos. It applied AI labels to 13 videos that had not disclosed their use of AI and suspended monetization for 10 videos across five channels.

Rep. Park stressed, "As more older adults get health information from YouTube and other platforms, safeguards for AI-generated videos must also be strengthened. Videos impersonating doctors must be actively blocked, as there is a risk that people could worsen their illnesses and harm their health by relying on misinformation." He also urged, "A consultative body involving public institutions, platforms, and medical experts should be established to set up a continuous monitoring system and make enforcement more effective."

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