I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Four actresses indicted for abuse of propofol
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Park Si-yeon
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Lee Seung-yeon
The prosecution indicted 11 people, including actresses Park Si-yeon and Lee Seung-yeon, without physical detention Wednesday on charges of abusing propofol for recreational purposes.
The indictment by the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office came one month after it launched an investigation into habitual use of the drug by celebrities. Those indicted were four female entertainers, two doctors, four housewives and one representative from an entertainment agency.
Non-medical use of the powerful anesthetic is illegal here. It is said that many entertainers are addicted to the drug as it puts them to sleep instantly.
They are easily drawn to the drug as they spend a lot of time in clinics undergoing plastic surgery and other cosmetic treatments. The drug was a contributing factor in the death of Michael Jackson.
According to the results of the investigation, Park, 34, received 185 injections at two different hospitals in Seoul from February to December in 2011 under the guise of undergoing surgery to burn fat. Actress Lee, 45, also had 111 injections from February to September in 20011.
The actresses, however, denied the allegations they used the drug illegally. Prosecutors, however, said they secured sufficient evidence to prove them wrong as they secured statements from doctors and other pieces of evidence.
It said the doctors, who injected propofol to the abusers of the drug, shredded medical documents of their patients in an attempt to destroy evidence.