Gain of Brown Eyed Girls apologizes for illegal propofol use
Gain of K-pop act Brown Eyed Girls / Courtesy of Mystic Story
By Dong Sun-hwa
Gain, 33, of K-pop act Brown Eyed Girls, has apologized for illegally using propofol, an anesthetic drug prohibited from being used for purposes other than surgical treatments.
The singer's management company, Mystic Story, issued an apology on her behalf on Thursday, one day following media reports about Gain's illegal use of the sleep inducer. It also confirmed that she was slapped with a fine of 1 million won ($883) earlier this year, after having been indicted for using propofol in an unspecified city in Gyeonggi Province between July and August of 2019.
“We sincerely apologize for belatedly delivering the news about Gain's misconduct,” Mystic said in a statement. “Gain made a reckless choice due to severe depression and a sleep disorder. We feel a deep sense of responsibility for failing to help the singer, who has been in severe pain for years… From now on, Gain and Mystic Story will strive to show a more mature attitude.”
When Gain was first accused of using propofol, she did not face any punishment due to a lack of evidence. The K-pop star, who appeared in the music video of Psy's global hit, “Gentleman (2013),” was caught after a plastic surgeon, whose identity has been withheld, was indicted for the illegal sale and use of propofol and etomidate ― another type of anesthetic ― to several patients, including Gain. But she claimed that the sleep inducer was prescribed for treatment purposes.
Gain, debuted as a member of Brown Eyed Girls in 2006. The group put out a series of hits such as “Abracadabra” (2009) and “Sign” (2009). She went solo in 2010, dominating music streaming charts with songs like “Bloom” (2012).