The entertainment industry was already reeling from the shock of the 'injection aunt gate' that began with comedian Park Na-rae, and now with signs that a 'drug gate' may start from Hwang Hana, the granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products, the entertainment world is on high alert.
During the process in which allegations of Park Na-rae's abusive behavior were exposed, illegal medical procedures emerged, the so-called 'injection aunt gate', which recently swept the entertainment industry. 'Injection aunt' is accused of performing medical acts (injections, IV administrations, etc.) for money without a Korean medical license, of arranging proxy prescriptions or illegally obtaining and delivering and administering psychotropic medicines such as phentermine-class appetite suppressants, nicknamed 'butterfly drugs', to entertainers. As a result, the case expanded beyond a simple violation of the Medical Service Act to include violations of the Act on the Control of Narcotics.
'Injection aunt' claims to have served as the first and youngest professor for both domestic and foreign nationals at the Pogan Medical College Hospital in Inner Mongolia. Although she had no domestic medical license, she is known to have visited entertainers' homes or officetels and performed injection procedures in a 'house call' format. It is suspected that she expanded her range of activities by showing off close relationships with many entertainers.
Because of the injection aunt gate, Park Na-rae, Jung Jae-hyung, SHINee's Onew, Key, Jun Hyun-moo, Eulpjapjin Haetnim, and Hong Jin-young were all embroiled in allegations. Park Na-rae, Key, and Eulpjapjin Haetnim suspended broadcasting activities after explanations or apologies. Jung Jae-hyung, Onew, Jun Hyun-moo, and Hong Jin-young denied any connection to the injection aunt, and Jun Hyun-moo in particular rebuffed the allegations by taking the extraordinary step of releasing medical records.
Regarding the injection aunt gate, prosecutors received a complaint from former Korean Medical Association Organization president Im Hyun-taek and referred the case to the police.
With the injection aunt gate still ongoing, the entertainment industry is on high alert as another gate is expected to break open. It is alleged that Hwang Hana, the granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products, who was arrested on drug charges, named certain entertainers in her police statements to seek a reduced sentence.
Hwang Hana, noted for being the granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products and for being the former girlfriend of singer and actor Park Yuchun, was accused of injecting methamphetamine into two other people, including an acquaintance, with a syringe in Gangnam, Seoul, in July 2023, and fled to Thailand in December of the same year. As Hwang Hana's overseas flight prevented further investigation, police requested Interpol issue a blue notice (to determine whereabouts) in May last year and invalidated her passport. It was later reported that Hwang Hana entered Cambodia illegally by unknown means and stayed there. Her lawyer recently expressed her intention to voluntarily turn herself in to the police, and after returning to Korea she was questioned at Gwacheon Police Station.
While Hwang Hana is reported to have denied the charges, there are claims that she named male and female entertainers in police questioning to seek a reduced sentence. On the YouTube channel 'Jiritjirit', reporter Oh Hyuk-jin said, "After entering Korea, Hwang Hana is claiming she did not use or distribute drugs, but it seems the police have pinpointed the timing and location of certain drug uses. As far as I know, she testified about a few entertainers to the authorities. She testified about a male entertainer and a female entertainer, and she apparently thinks that only by revealing other people's crimes can she receive a reduced sentence."
If Hwang Hana actually testified with the names of a male entertainer and a female entertainer, the investigation could expand, putting the entertainment industry on high alert. Having guarded itself because of the injection aunt gate, the entertainment world now faces a drug gate, raising tensions.
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