Medical Community in Uproar Over PSY’s Sleep Medication Controversy—KMA Demands Full Investigation

Singer PSY has sparked controversy over allegations that a third party collected his prescription sleep medication, prompting the Korean Medical Association (KMA) to call for a thorough investigation.

On the 28th, the KMA held a regular briefing, stating, “Controlled substances carry a high risk of dependence and addiction, so they must be prescribed and dispensed directly to the patient through an in-person medical consultation.” The association emphasized, “We are closely reviewing the facts of this case through our expert panel and urge the authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation and enforce the law without leniency.”

According to police reports on the 27th, the Seodaemun Police Station in Seoul has opened an investigation into singer PSY and Professor B from a university hospital, both accused of violating medical laws. PSY is under investigation for allegedly receiving a prescription for psychotropic medication under another person’s name, while Professor B, who reportedly authorized the third-party pickup, has also been booked.

By law, psychotropic medications can only be prescribed following a face-to-face consultation with a physician. Patients are required to collect their prescriptions in person, with exceptions allowed only in rare cases, such as family members or caregivers under strict conditions.

Amid the growing controversy, PSY’s agency, P NATION, admitted, “Having a third party collect prescription sleep medication was clearly a mistake and a misstep on our part.”

The agency added, “PSY has been diagnosed with chronic sleep disorders and has been taking medication as prescribed by his doctors. He has always taken the proper dosage under medical supervision, and he has never received medication under someone else’s prescription. However, there was an instance where a third party picked up the medication on his behalf, and the police are currently investigating this matter.”

Despite this explanation, some in the medical community remain skeptical. A physician, identified as Dr. A, wrote on social media, “Claiming it was only a ‘pickup by proxy’ and not a ‘prescription by proxy’ makes no sense. When someone other than the patient collects the medication, that is effectively a proxy prescription.”

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This article is a translated version of the original Korean article published by Xportsnews, originally written by Jeong Mingyeong. This article was translated from Korean using AI-assisted tools and human review to deliver an accurate and culturally appropriate version for international readers.