Popular South Korean broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo is now facing a formal police investigation. This follows the viral resurgence of a nine-year-old television clip that shows him receiving an intravenous (IV) drip while sitting inside a car. The complaint alleges this act may have violated the country's strict Medical Service Act.
Police Complaint and the 2016 Broadcast
The Seoul Gangnam Police Station confirmed it received a petition via the government's e-People portal. This petition specifically requests a probe into whether the administration of an IV fluid in Jeon's private vehicle was legal under Korean medical law. The footage in question originally aired in 2016 on the MBC variety show 'I Live Alone'. In the scene, Jeon is seen sitting in the passenger seat with an IV line connected to his arm.
In response, Jeon's agency, SM C&C, has taken a defensive stance. The agency released copies of his medical records from 2016. They stated that Jeon was initially treated at a hospital for conditions including pharyngitis, laryngitis, and gastroesophageal reflux. The agency claims that, under a doctor's judgment, part of the prescribed treatment was continued during travel. SM C&C insists all procedures except the final stage completed in the car were done inside a medical institution. They have labeled the in-car IV as "a lawful extension of hospital care" and denied it was an illegal home-visit service.
Legal Grey Area and Industry Scrutiny
This incident has ignited a significant legal debate. Korean media and medical experts point out that the Medical Service Act typically requires medical procedures to be conducted inside registered hospitals or clinics. Exceptions are limited to scenarios like ambulances or disaster situations. The key question investigators must now answer is whether a doctor-supervised IV drip in a personal vehicle can be considered lawful under this framework.
The controversy around Jeon Hyun-moo arrives amid heightened scrutiny of unlicensed medical procedures within South Korea's entertainment industry. This renewed focus is partly a fallout from a wider scandal involving comedian Park Na-rae. In that case, a figure referred to as the "injection aunt" was confirmed by the Korean Medical Association to lack a domestic medical license. Several other entertainers, including SHINee's Key and YouTuber "Ipjjalbbeun Haetnim", have paused their activities after admitting to receiving treatments from the same unlicensed individual.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Probe
The convergence of these cases has deepened concerns over underground aesthetic and wellness procedures sought by celebrities. It has put both regulators and the public on high alert, making Jeon's case a closely watched precedent. The police investigation will likely scrutinize the specific circumstances of the IV administration, the doctor's involvement, and the interpretation of the medical law's provisions for care outside formal facilities.
As the probe continues, the entertainment industry is facing a moment of reckoning regarding health and legality. The outcome of Jeon Hyun-moo's case could set an important standard for what constitutes permissible medical practice for public figures in South Korea, potentially influencing future regulations and industry behavior.
