Psy booked for medical law violation, agency admits ‘proxy pickup’ of sleeping pills

Singer Psy is booked on suspicion of violating medical law. Courtesy of P Nation

Singer Psy has been booked on suspicion of violating the Medical Service Act, though his agency said the case involves a proxy pickup of prescription sleeping pills rather than proxy prescriptions.

P Nation, Psy’s management company, issued a statement on Thursday acknowledging fault. “It is undeniably a mistake and negligence that a third party picked up prescription sleeping pills on his behalf,” the agency said.

According to the agency, Psy has long suffered from chronic sleep disorders and has been taking sleeping pills prescribed by doctors.

His agency emphasized that he has followed medical guidance and dosages as prescribed, and denied any proxy prescriptions.

“There were cases where sleeping pills were collected by a third party, and the police are currently investigating,” the company said, adding that there was no deliberate wrongdoing.

The controversy emerged after Psy and a university hospital professor, identified only as A, were reported on Aug. 27 for alleged violations of the Medical Service Act. Police said Psy was accused of receiving prescriptions for psychotropic drugs from a general hospital in Seoul without in-person consultations.

Under Korean law, psychotropic medications can only be prescribed following direct consultation with a physician, and patients are generally required to collect the drugs themselves.

Only under very limited circumstances, such as through immediate family members or caregivers, is proxy pickup permitted.

The medications Psy reportedly received include Xanax and Stilnox, commonly used for treating insomnia and anxiety disorders. Both drugs are tightly regulated due to their high potential for addiction and dependency.

Police have secured medical records through a search and seizure at the hospital and are continuing their investigation.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.