Gangnam Style star Psy releases apology after police investigation over prescription pills

South Korean singer PSY has apologised after an incident involving prescription pills (Picture: ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Korean pop star Psy, who went viral with the song Gangnam Style in 2012, has released an apology after a police investigation over prescription pills.

The 47-year-old South Korean rapper and singer-songwriter allegedly picked up powerful prescription pills by proxy.

It was reported that Seoul Seodaemun Police Station arrested Psy and a university hospital doctor on suspicion of violating South Korea’s Medical Service Act. 

Investigators alleged that the singer obtained prescriptions without the face-to-face consultations that were required. The drug prescriptions obtained were for psychotropics, including Xanax and Stilnox.

It was also claimed by Yonhap News Agency that from 2022 until recently, the star had managers and others collect his pills on his behalf.

Psy’s label which he founded in 2019, P Nation, issued a statement apologising on Thursday, emphasising that this was all a ‘mistake’ and ‘oversight’ on Psy’s part.

Psy was known for his 2012 breakout hit song Gangnam Style ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images) The singer has had a long career in South Korea (Picture: Jung Yeon-je / AFP)

‘Hello, this is P NATION. This is our position regarding the issue of singer PSY’s proxy pickup of sleeping medication.

‘Having had a third party collect a prescription-only sleeping medication on his behalf was clearly a mistake and an oversight.

‘We apologise. PSY has been diagnosed with a chronic sleep disorder and has been taking sleeping medication in accordance with his medical team’s prescription.

‘His use of sleeping medication has been under medical supervision and within the prescribed dosage, and there was no proxy prescribing.’

The Korea Biomedical Review, added that the singer also issued a statement separately to his agency. He called the incident ‘a clear mistake and negligence’ and expressed regret for troubling fans and the public.

The singer insisted the issue was an error (Picture: ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Under South Korean law, proxy pickups such as this are illegal and only permitted in rare circumstances with family members or legal caregivers.

Psy came to fame in 2012 with his hit song Gangnam Style, with the music video sparking a global dance trend.

The music video became the first to reach 1 billion views on YouTube and the most-viewed video on the site from November 2012 to July 2017.

Since the release of the hit, the singer has not had the same level of global acclaim, but has had continued success in South Korea.

Metro has reached out to representatives for comment.

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