'Gangnam Style' singer under investigation

According to Chosun , singer PSY has been transferred for investigation on charges of receiving prescriptions for psychotropic drugs remotely and having his manager receive the medication on his behalf. Specifically, on June 2nd, the Seodaemun Police Station (Seoul) announced that it had transferred the files of a total of six people, including PSY, a professor at a university hospital who prescribed the medication, and the singer's manager, to the prosecutor's office in non-detention mode on charges of violating the Medical Act.

PSY is under investigation for allegedly receiving prescriptions for psychotropic drugs remotely and having his manager receive the medication on his behalf. Photo: News1.

PSY is suspected of being prescribed two psychotropic drugs, Xanax and Stilnox, at a university hospital in Seoul between February 2022 and July 2025, without undergoing a direct examination, and having his manager receive the medication on his behalf. According to current South Korean medical law, only the doctor who directly examined the patient is allowed to issue prescriptions, and the recipient of the prescription must also be the patient who was examined.

Violators may face up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won for violating this law. The law includes exceptions for patients who are unconscious or have difficulty moving, but PSY does not fall under these categories.

According to sources, Xanax and Stilnox are medications used to treat sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression. Due to their high risk of dependence and addiction, these are psychotropic drugs whose prescription and treatment require a direct examination.

When the controversy arose earlier, PSY's management company, P NATION, issued a statement saying, "Taking prescription sleeping pills on behalf of someone else was a mistake and a lack of caution." However, the company asserted that the singer was diagnosed with a chronic sleep disorder and had been using sleeping pills as prescribed by his doctor. The company also emphasized that PSY always took the medication exactly as directed by his doctor and did not prescribe it for anyone else.

PSY became globally famous after his mega-hit Gangnam Style . Photo: Tsisalaw .

PSY, born in 1977, is one of South Korea's most famous singers and rappers. He became a global phenomenon after the release of Gangnam Style in 2012. On November 24, 2012, Gangnam Style became the most-watched video in YouTube history, surpassing Justin Bieber's Baby .