Seven Arrested for Unlicensed Medical Practice
44 Suspects in Illegal Drug Distribution Also to Be Referred
A group of foreigners who recruited customers through social networking services (SNS) and performed cosmetic procedures such as Botox using illegally distributed pharmaceuticals were arrested in large numbers by the police.
The clinic located in Gangbuk, Seoul, operated by suspect A [Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Unit announced on the 1st that they arrested seven foreigners, including a 33-year-old Vietnamese woman A, on charges of violating the Medical Service Act without a license. Along with them, 44 related individuals, including a 47-year-old man B who illegally distributed pharmaceuticals and a 51-year-old representative C of a pharmaceutical wholesaler and unlicensed company, were additionally arrested on charges of illegal pharmaceutical distribution and are scheduled to be sent to the prosecution on the 2nd.
According to the police, A operated a beauty shop in a house located in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, from February 2020 to October 2023, performing illegal cosmetic procedures such as Botox for 150,000 to 200,000 KRW per session, and recruited students to teach cosmetic techniques. It was revealed that six foreigners who were A’s students also opened separate establishments and performed illegal cosmetic procedures.
The police confirmed that there were no victims suffering side effects from A’s illegal cosmetic procedures. A was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year probation by the Seoul Central District Court’s second trial in June. Afterward, she was forcibly deported as her stay extension was not approved. A, who had entered Korea through marriage to a Korean man, was known to have legally stayed by obtaining a visa due to custody issues after divorce.
B is suspected of purchasing pharmaceuticals worth approximately 9.4 billion KRW without sales qualifications and illegally distributing them. In April, the police seized a total of 7,561 pharmaceuticals including Botox, wrinkle improvement agents, and anesthetic creams from B’s office located in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. C was investigated to have sold or purchased pharmaceuticals to or from B.
Currently, the domestic sale and distribution of pharmaceuticals are restricted under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, but there are no separate regulations for handling pharmaceuticals for export purposes. Police investigations confirmed that B exploited this loophole by pretending to export pharmaceuticals and sold them to unlicensed domestic companies or unlicensed medical practitioners. Additionally, the pharmaceuticals found in B’s office were stored in a regular warehouse rather than refrigerated storage, raising concerns about possible deterioration during distribution.
Following this incident, the police have notified the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, which oversees pharmaceutical management, about the need for system improvements.
A police official stated, "Licensed sellers such as pharmacists and wholesalers are transparently managed, but pharmaceutical exporters are not. There is a need to improve the system to establish a management framework to track how exporters’ pharmaceuticals are distributed and whether they are actually exported."
He added, "We plan to continue crackdowns to prevent medical accidents caused by pharmaceutical misuse and illegal procedures," and urged, "Please actively report any illegal activities related to the illegal distribution of pharmaceuticals."
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