Psy, the global music icon renowned for his 2012 smash hit «Gangnam Style», has been referred to South Korean prosecutors, The Korea Herald reports. The singer is facing allegations that he instructed his manager to illegally collect psychotropic drugs on his behalf.
According to local media reports published on Tuesday, police formally transferred the case to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office on Monday. The investigation currently involves Psy, his manager, a professor at a Seoul university hospital and one other unnamed individual. All are suspected of breaching the country’s Medical Service Act.
Alleged regulatory breaches
The core of the accusation centres on claims that the pop star received prescriptions for psychotropic medications between 2022 and 2025 without attending mandatory in-person medical consultations. Furthermore, he is accused of using third parties to physically collect the drugs for him.
Under South Korean law, prescriptions generally demand a face-to-face examination and must be collected directly by the patient. The medications in question reportedly include Xanax and Stilnox.
Xanax contains alprazolam which is frequently prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders while Stilnox contains the sleep aid zolpidem. Although both are legally approved for use in the country, they are tightly regulated as psychotropic substances due to the high risk of dependence and severe side effects.
South Korean law strictly classifies psychotropic drugs as controlled narcotics. While proxy collection is permitted under highly specific circumstances, such as for patients with severe mobility issues or those undergoing long-term treatment, designated representatives must provide stringent documentation including proof of eligibility and a copy of the patient’s identification.
Agency issues apology
Police initially booked the singer in connection with these claims when they first emerged in August 2025. Psy’s management agency P Nation subsequently issued a public statement to address the controversy. The agency apologised and admitted that using a third party to collect prescription sleeping pills was a «clear mistake and lapse in judgement».
The agency stressed that the singer had adhered strictly to prescribed dosages and medical instructions and insisted that no proxy prescriptions were involved in his treatment. However, they conceded that third parties had physically collected the medication during his treatment process and confirmed they were fully cooperating with the ongoing police investigation.
