"IV Drip at Nap Cafe"... You May Get Reported for That

50,000 Won Vitamin Injections and 100,000 Won IV Drips
Operating Across Seoul... Medical Law Violation Punishments

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] A nap cafe in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. During lunchtime, this place sees a steady flow of office workers looking to take a break. For 20,000 won per hour, customers can comfortably take a nap in a private space. Among the rest courses listed at the cafe entrance, there are courses priced at 50,000 won and 100,000 won. These courses were not available for online reservation.

The identity of the premium courses was injections that relieve fatigue. An employee said, "If you pay 50,000 won, you can receive a vitamin injection, and if you pay 100,000 won, you can get an intravenous injection," adding, "You can rest while receiving an injection after a doctor's consultation at a hospital located right next door."

It has been found that several places in Seoul, including Gangnam and Gwanghwamun, imitate sleep cafes and offer services such as 'taking a nap while receiving an intravenous drip.' Most systems provide garlic injections, vitamin injections, placenta injections, and intravenous injections. The cost is mostly around 50,000 to 100,000 won.

This is a clear violation of the Medical Service Act. Even if linked with a hospital, medical acts performed in places that are not medical institutions are illegal under the Medical Service Act. The Yeouido cafe was not registered as a medical institution. It was literally a 'cafe' registered as a general restaurant business.

An official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare explained, "It needs to be examined precisely, but administering injections at nap cafes and similar places is highly likely to be illegal." Taking customers who visit nap cafes or healing cafes to a nearby hospital for consultation and injections also constitutes illegal business operations.

After this report began, the Medical Department of Yeongdeungpo-gu Office in Seoul decided to conduct an on-site inspection. A Yeongdeungpo-gu Office official said, "Since there appears to be a strong possibility of violating the Medical Service Act, we will conduct an on-site inspection to check for illegal activities," adding, "If illegal acts are detected, we will take appropriate administrative measures as well as file a police complaint."