Authorities are currently looking into K-Pop star Psy, known for his 2012 hit “Gangnam Style,” following allegations that he used a proxy to illegally acquire prescription medications in Korea.
Legally named Park Jae Sang, Psy is reported to have received prescriptions for Xanaxand Stilnox from a university hospital for the past three years.
These medications are often used to treat issues like sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression, but they’re also associated with a high risk of addiction. Because of this, regular monitoring and direct consultations with doctors are typically required.
However, navigating Korea’s health services law complicates what might seem straightforward, as only immediate family members or caregivers are allowed to pick up prescriptions for dependents.
After “Gangnam Style” became a global sensation, the 48-year-old artist acknowledged in a statement that surveillance had indicated a third party may have picked up his medication on his behalf.
Following a tip-off, South Korean police identified a potential violation, leading to the hospital managing the prescriptions being seized as part of the investigation, with doctors facing scrutiny for their role in the transactions.
The physician involved has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that remote consultations with Jae Sang were still taking place.
Psy’s agency, P Nation, has stated that the artist was “diagnosed with chronic sleep disorders” and was taking the medication “according to the medical team’s prescription,” a claim reiterated in a statement obtained by Gulf News.
They emphasized that his medication usage was supervised, adhering to prescribed dosages, and while there had been instances of a third party collecting the medication, there was no surrogate prescription.
“Gangnam Style” made history as the first video to reach 1 billion views on YouTube, eventually becoming the first to hit 2 billion views in 2014.
The song triggered a wave of flash mob dancing globally, but not all the dance experiences were positive. For example, a year after its release, an incident at a wedding saw a man inadvertently causing a serious accident while dancing with an AK-47, resulting in tragic consequences.
