In South Korea, the health supplement market has seen exponential growth, with a total market size reaching 5.96 trillion won last year. This surge is mirrored in the U.S., where the supplement industry has grown dramatically, increasing from around 4,000 products in 1994 to approximately 95,000 today. Social media influencers, particularly those in fitness, are heavily promoting supplements, suggesting that consuming these products not only enhances health but is necessary for maintaining a certain lifestyle, often costing consumers several hundred dollars each month.

The article raises critical questions about the actual health benefits of this intense supplement culture, addressing when and why society began to rely on these products. Author Jeong Jae-hoon, a food writer and former pharmacist, explores the nuances surrounding the distinction between medicine and food. He argues that the boundaries we engineer through modern laws and regulations create a gray area filled with health supplements that appear safe and beneficial but often lack the rigorous safety testing and transparency required of pharmaceutical drugs.

This phenomenon of what the author calls a "health subscription society" has significant socio-cultural implications. The widespread belief that health supplements are benign and full of nutrition, juxtaposed with skepticism towards pharmaceuticals due to their potential side effects, reflects a profound misunderstanding of dietary substances and health. The article challenges readers to evaluate the cultural narratives driving their consumption habits and to consider the broader health implications of an ever-growing list of health supplements endorsed by influencers in today's digital landscape.