Doctor who turned clinic into propofol mill gets 4 years in prison

A Seoul doctor who profited from administering psychotropic drugs to propofol addicts under the guise of cosmetic procedures has been sentenced to prison. The court found that his operation—run with the help of clinic staff and family members—“mass-produced addicts” and warranted severe punishment.

The Seoul Central District Court recently sentenced the doctor, identified only as “A,” to four years in prison and a fine of 5 million won (approximately $3,670) for violating the Narcotics Control Act and the Medical Service Act. He was also ordered to pay 4.1 billion won in restitution and complete 40 hours of rehabilitation education for drug offenders.

However, the court acquitted him of drug trafficking charges.

A doctor who administered psychotropic drugs to propofol addicts for profit has been sentenced to four years in prison. (Credit: Getty Images)

Dr. A was accused of conspiring with a medical counselor and nursing assistants at his clinic to administer psychotropic drugs—including propofol, remimazolam, midazolam, and ketamine—to addicts disguised as cosmetic patients between January 2021 and July 2024.

Over the course of more than four years, 105 individuals received psychotropic drugs 3,703 times at his clinic, generating about 4.1 billion won in income. Dr. A himself received these drugs 16 times between January and November 2023.

To avoid detection by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), he manipulated medical records—either omitting propofol from charts or recording it under unrelated patients or procedures. Often, drug use was falsely documented as part of cosmetic treatments.

Beginning in May 2023, his clinic began administering a cocktail of etomidate and remimazolam to propofol addicts. If a patient failed to fall asleep, midazolam or ketamine was added.

The clinic's counselor managed addicted clients, handled billing, and kept financial records. Nursing assistants administered drugs and performed minor procedures. Dr. A reportedly gave bonuses to staff based on increased revenue and involved his spouse, children, and father-in-law in the operation.

Even after learning he was under police investigation, Dr. A continued his business. While he reduced dosages and changed the phone number of the clinic’s business line, he kept administering drugs.

“Mr. A publicly encouraged customers to undergo cosmetic procedures together. When employees raised concerns about misuse, he reassured them, saying, ‘It’s okay if we do the procedure together,’” the court said. “He used cosmetic treatments to legitimize repeated sleep anesthesia, treating it as part of standard practice.”

“As a medical professional, Mr. A should have known the dangers of abusing psychotropic drugs. Yet he made it his primary source of income and created a large number of people with addiction,” the court stated. “He even provided free drugs to severely addicted patients as ‘birthday’ or ‘release’ gifts—some of whom took up to 15 to 20 pills per day.”

According to the ruling, many patients—initially curious or already dependent—became severely addicted after repeatedly visiting Dr. A’s clinic.

“By increasing daily dosages and the frequency of patient visits, Dr. A actively promoted addiction,” the court concluded. “Given the scope of his operation and its devastating impact, a strict sentence is unavoidable.”