Actresses Park Si Yeon, Lee Seung Yeon, and Jang Mi In Ae appeared in Seoul Central District Court this week for the third round of trials regarding their alleged abuse of the sleep-inducing drug propofol.
All three actresses have denied abusing the drug, claiming that it was used at cosmetic surgery clinics and under doctor's orders to relieve pain following skin care treatments. The actresses were indicted following an investigation of the cosmetic surgery clinics due to reports that the drug has been supplied for non-medical purposes.
Propofol is a sedative that numbs pain, induces sleep and helps the user relax, but it does have some dangerous side effects. Among the side effects are respiratory problems and cardiac arrest. The drug has been abused recreationally because it induces hallucinations and feelings of euphoria. Propofol abuse was implicated in the death of superstar Michael Jackson, who died from an overdose in 2009.
The previous round of trials took place on April 8. During that trial, actress Park Si Yeon, who starred in "Nice Guy" and "Coffee House," stated that she only used propofol, "as prescribed according to the doctor for the purposes of medical treatment." According to the prosecutor's office, Park Si Yeon received more than 180 injections at two cosmetic surgery clinics over the course of two years. The actress claimed that the drug was used following carboxy treatments, which involve injecting carbon dioxide under the skin. Such treatments can be painful.
Jang Mi In Ae, who starred in "Missing You," and Lee Seung Yeon, who was a "Miss Korea" winner and starred in the film, "3-Iron," said they also acted under the supervision of a doctor, using the drug following Botox therapy. According to the prosecutor's office, Lee Seung Yeon took the drug 110 times and Jang Mi In Ae took it 95 times.
The doctors who administered the injections have also been charged.
According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office, "The doctors indiscriminately injected the drugs without consideration of the risks of addition to earn more cash."
The actresses were indicted without detention. TV host, actress and singer Hyun Young was also accused of abusing propofol. She is accused of having up to 42 injections of propofol. Since she only administered a small amount of the drug during a short period of time, she will only receive a fine.
As a result of the controversy Hyun Yong had to quit the show "God of Food Road."
