Corruption scandal drives craze for anti-aging shots

This week alone, eight beauty injections have won government approval for sale. / Yonhap

By Lee Han-soo

The corruption scandal that led to President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment has had an unexpected side effect -- it has triggered a massive craze for beauty injections.

Pharmaceutical companies say the anti-aging shots are in high demand at upscale hospitals and clinics, with some even developing pricy anti-aging treatment packages.

The phenomenon is attributed to President Park’s fascination with anti-aging shots and related treatments, revealed by media reports and prosecutors’ investigations. Park is known to have received anti-aging treatments at a hospital in southern Seoul for many years under the alias “Gil Ra-im.”

Pharmaceutical companies have reacted quickly, launching new beauty injections targeting rich women. This week alone, eight beauty injections have won government approval for sale.

But experts say people should be wary of the injections because their effectiveness has not been fully tested.