Korean TV rocked by escalating ‘injection aunt’ scandal linked to Park Na-rae

Park Na-rae, left, and SHINee's Key / Xportsnews

South Korea’s entertainment industry is facing widening fallout from the so-called “injection aunt” controversy involving comedian Park Na-rae, who recently halted all activities. What began as allegations about an unlicensed medical provider has now spread to speculation involving SHINee member Key, drawing intense attention online.

The scandal erupted after photos surfaced showing Park receiving intravenous drips and other treatments from a woman identified only as “A,” who allegedly does not have a medical license. Park had already been in the spotlight due to disputes with former managers, but this new allegation — involving IV treatments at a private home and proxy prescriptions for antidepressants — escalated public concern.

Park’s agency told Xportsnews that they believed “A is a doctor with a valid medical license” and that Park had received only “a nutritional injection,” insisting the situation does not constitute “illegal medical practice.”

However, the controversy intensified on Dec. 8 after the Korean Medical Association issued a strongly worded statement calling the procedures “clear unlicensed medical treatment in violation of the Medical Service Act.” The association also said there were indications that the case involved clonazepam — a controlled psychotropic drug — and trazodone, a prescription antidepressant. It urged authorities to investigate whether the drugs were illegally supplied or diverted from wholesalers or medical institutions.

Health authorities later said they would “review administrative investigation measures if necessary, depending on the progress of the police probe.”

A attempted to defend herself on Dec. 7, claiming she had spent years studying in Inner Mongolia, served as the “first and youngest foreign professor” at an alleged institution called Fokang Medical College Hospital, and even helped attract Korean plastic surgery centers. But medical officials refuted the statement, saying no such university exists and noting that “A does not appear in any record of licensed Korean physicians.” They also stressed that degrees from Chinese medical schools do not qualify graduates for licensing examinations in Korea. Her explanation post has since been deleted.

Photo of SHINee member Key's dog Comme Des posted by a woman identified as A, who is at the center of the Park Na-rae controversy, with the caption "Comme Des, why are you still glaring after more than 10 years?" Captured from online community

Speculation spreads to SHINee’s Key

Public scrutiny grew further when past social media posts revealed that A had uploaded photos of SHINee member Key’s dogs, Comme Des and Garcons, writing on one, “Comme Des, why are you still glaring after more than ten years?” The dogs have appeared multiple times on MBC program “I Live Alone,” making them instantly recognizable to fans.

As online users compared the background of the photos to Key’s home, fans flocked to his social media accounts with comments such as “Do you know the injection aunt?” and “Please clarify regarding Park Na-rae.”

The situation has drawn even more attention because Key’s mother is a well-known health care professional who retired last year after serving as head nurse at a major university hospital.

With investigations pending and online speculation growing, the controversy surrounding Park Na-rae’s “injection aunt” continues to widen, posing new reputational risks across the entertainment industry.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.