[K-Pop] Rapper PSY under police investigation over alleged proxy receipt of prescription drugs

Singer PSY performs at the eve celebration of the 80th Liberation Day titled Korea Has Survived held on the lawn of the National Assembly in Yeouido Seoul at 815 pm on August 14 the day before the 80th anniversary AJUNEWS Yoo Dae-gil dbeorlf123ajunewscom — Singer PSY performs at the eve celebration of the 80th Liberation Day, titled "Korea Has Survived," held on the lawn of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, at 8:15 p.m. on August 14, the day before the 80th anniversary. AJUNEWS Yoo Dae-gil, dbeorlf123@ajunews.com

SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - South Korean rapper PSY, well known for his global hit song "Gangnam Style," is under police investigation on suspicion of violating medical laws by allegedly receiving prescription-only psychotropic drugs through a proxy, authorities confirmed Thursday.

According to the Seodaemun Police Station in Seoul, the 47-year-old K-pop star and a university hospital professor are being investigated following a complaint that accused them of breaching medical regulations. Police are also looking into whether PSY's manager collected the medication on his behalf.

Investigators suspect that since 2022, PSY has obtained prescriptions for Xanax and Stilnox, both classified as psychotropic drugs for treating anxiety and sleep disorders, from a Seoul university hospital without in-person consultations and had them picked up by his manager. The police recently raided the hospital to secure related medical records.

Under South Korean law, such drugs must be prescribed after face-to-face consultations, and patients are required to collect them in person. Proxy receipt is only permitted in limited cases, such as by a family member or caregiver. Temporary rules during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed phone prescriptions and proxy collection beginning in February 2020, but those measures were rolled back in November 2021.

In a statement released through his agency, Pnation, PSY admitted fault in allowing a third party to collect prescription sleeping pills on his behalf.

"The proxy collection of prescription sleeping pills was clearly a mistake and negligence. We are sorry," the statement said. The gaency added that PSY has long suffered from chronic sleep disorders and has taken sleeping pills only under medical supervision at prescribed dosages.

"There was no proxy prescription," the agency stressed. "However, there were cases where sleeping pills were collected by a third party, and the police are currently investigating. We sincerely apologize once again for causing concern."

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com