South Korean singer PSY (real name Park Jae-sang) is under investigation for allegedly violating the Medical Services Act by arranging for his manager to collect prescription sedatives on his behalf. The artist is expected to undergo a third police interrogation regarding the case.
At a press conference held by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on November 8, acting chief Park Hyun-soo confirmed that PSY he hadn’t been called up yet but plans were underway. Authorities are currently reviewing evidence, including interviews with affected individuals and analysis of seized items, to determine the legality of the prescription process.
PSY he was officially booked in August on charges of violating the medical law. He is accused of instructing his manager to pick up prescriptions for Stilnox and Xanax, both classified as psychotropic drugs, without undergoing in-person consultations. A university hospital professor, referred to as “Professor A”, to whom he prescribed the drug PSYit was also booked.
Reportedly, as of 2022, PSY received prescriptions for these sedatives from Professor A without in-person visits and instructed his manager to collect the medication. Following a tip-off, police raided the University Hospital, obtained medical records and are currently reviewing them to determine further actions, including PSYthe formal convocation.
The controversy arises because under the current Korean Medical Services Law, proxy withdrawal of high-risk psychotropic drugs such as Stilnox and Xanax is illegal. These drugs are generally prescribed to treat sleep disorders, depression, and anxiety and carry a high risk of addiction. The law requires that prescriptions must follow an in-person diagnosis and that patients are required to pick up such drugs themselves. Violation of this regulation could result in up to one year in prison or a fine of up to KRW 10 million.
On August 28th, PSY issued a formal apology through his agency P Nation: “It was clearly an oversight and mistake to have someone else recall the sleep medication. I sincerely apologize. I have been diagnosed with chronic insomnia and took the prescribed medication under medical supervision. While there was no proxy prescription, there have been instances where the medication was recalled by a third party, which is now under police investigation. I apologize once again for causing concern.”
The investigation remains ongoing as public attention focuses on possible legal action against one of Korea’s most internationally recognized stars.
Sources: Daum
