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 pick up prescription-only sedatives on his behalf. The artist is expected to undergo a third round of police questioning regarding the case.
At a press briefing held by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on November 8, acting chief Park Hyun-soo confirmed that PSY had not yet been summoned but that plans were underway. Authorities are currently reviewing evidence, including interviews with relevant individuals and analysis of seized items, to determine the legality of the prescription process.
PSY was officially booked in August on suspicion of breaching 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,” who prescribed the medication to PSY, was also booked.
Reportedly, since 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, the police raided the university hospital, obtained medical records, and are currently reviewing them to determine further actions, including PSY‘s formal summons.
The controversy stems from the fact that under Korea’s current Medical Services Act, proxy pickup of high-risk psychotropic medications like Stilnox and Xanax is illegal. These drugs are typically prescribed to treat sleep disorders, depression, and anxiety, and carry a high risk of dependency. The law mandates that prescriptions must follow an in-person diagnosis, and patients are required to collect such medications themselves. Violating this regulation could result in up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million KRW.
On August 28, PSY released a formal apology through his agency P Nation: “It was clearly an oversight and mistake to have sleep medication collected by someone else. I sincerely apologize. I have been diagnosed with chronic insomnia and have taken prescribed medication under medical supervision. While there was no proxy prescription, there were cases where the medication was picked up 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 whether legal action will be taken against one of Korea’s most internationally recognized stars.
Sources: Daum