EXID Hanni and psychiatrist Yang Jae-woong promised to marry last year but decided to indefinitely postpone due to a patient death incident. What is the current situation?
In May last year, a patient death incident occurred at Yang Jae-woong's hospital. The fact that person A, who was hospitalized for treatment of diet pill addiction, passed away after 17 days became known two months after the death, and Yang Jae-woong said through his agency, "We cannot hide our deep emotions regarding the incident that occurred during the hospitalization process. I sincerely apologize to the bereaved family members who are grieving the loss of their loved one."
Yang Jae-woong also appeared as a witness at the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee audit. When asked if he acknowledged any negligence, he said, "I do not acknowledge it. It is difficult to acknowledge." He also said, "Once again, I apologize for not being able to safely recover your daughter or sister when you trusted our hospital and brought her in."
Currently, the investigation into Yang Jae-woong is reportedly halted. According to a media report on the 25th of last month, the police stopped the investigation due to the fact that they had not received the appraisal results from the Korean Medical Association. A Criminal Division officer from the Bucheon Wonmi Police Station explained, "The results of the appraisal requested from the Medical Association at the end of October last year have not been received."
Article 98 of the police investigation rules states that expert opinions are needed to conclude investigations into incidents such as medical accidents, traffic accidents, and patent infringements, but investigations can only be halted if preparing these opinions takes considerable time.
In response, Shin Seok-cheol, executive director of the Korean Mental Health Association, said, "This is an incident that occurred after isolation and compulsion, but the police only requested advice from the Korean Medical Association, which has argued for the inevitability of isolation and compulsion on behalf of psychiatrists. Halting the investigation because the results did not come is unfair," noting plans to hold a press conference to condemn the investigation's suspension in consultation with the bereaved families.
Due to the fallout from the patient death incident at Yang Jae-woong's hospital, Hanni suspended her activities. As she announced her marriage shortly after the death incident occurred, there was speculation that Hanni could not be unaware of it. Hanni also withdrew from the programs she was scheduled to appear in but resumed her activities by participating with EXID members in a festival held in Indonesia last November.
While Hanni had not been active in domestic broadcasts, she appears before viewers through KBS2's "Immortal Songs." In particular, with her appearance on "Immortal Songs," she posted a message and a photo stating "Dharamsala" on her personal social media account. The photos in the update featured her with a new short hairstyle, leading some netizens to speculate whether there has been a change in Hanni's state of mind.
Meanwhile, Hanni and Yang Jae-woong promised to marry in September last year, but indefinitely postponed due to the effects of the patient death incident.
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