MC Mong has been swept up in allegations that he received and took the psychotropic medication zolpidem through a prescription issued under his manager’s name. MC Mong has denied the claims, arguing that the audio recording cited as evidence was manipulated.
According to a January 30 report by Edaily, MC Mong’s former manager, identified only as Mr. Park, allegedly made remarks during a phone call on June 10 last year with another manager, Mr. Jo, from MC Mong’s former agency One Hundred Label. In the conversation, Park was said to have stated, “It wasn’t proxy prescribing. I received it all and just gave it to him. Under my name,” implying that he handed over medication prescribed to himself to MC Mong. Park reportedly added that he gave the medication because MC Mong asked for it.
Park is known to have worked as MC Mong’s manager for about 10 years, repeatedly leaving and rejoining the team until 2023. In the recording, Park also reportedly said, “Mr. Kwon would know better than me,” suggesting the possibility that others besides himself may have been involved in similar proxy prescriptions. The Mr. Kwon mentioned previously served as CEO of Big Planet Made Entertainment, where MC Mong was a representative, and has since left the entertainment industry.
MC Mong denied the allegations in a statement to Edaily, saying, “The recording is fabricated,” and adding, “I did not part on good terms with Mr. Park in the past.” He further claimed, “I go to the hospital myself every day and receive prescriptions under my own name. I have never received even a single pill from Mr. Park.”
However, when pressed with questions based on the statements heard in the recording, MC Mong reportedly responded, “Maybe I don’t know either. I might have received one or two pills,” adding, “I was having a tough time because I couldn’t sleep, so I might have taken some leftover medication that Mr. Park had.” Park, for his part, stated that he does not remember the details of the phone conversation.
According to MC Mong, both he and Park were prescribed zolpidem at a hospital located in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. MC Mong explained, “The maximum amount you can be prescribed per month is 30 pills. If you go on a long overseas business trip, you might run short, so I was thinking along the lines of, ‘If you give me one or two of yours, I’ll give you some of mine later.’”
Under Article 17-2 of the Medical Service Act, proxy prescriptions are allowed only in limited circumstances, such as when the patient is unconscious, has severely restricted mobility, or has been receiving the same prescription for a long-term condition where medical safety is recognized. The person collecting the medication on the patient’s behalf is also restricted to close family members or other individuals defined by the Ministry of Health and Welfare regulations.
In particular, narcotic or psychotropic drugs such as zolpidem are considered high risk in the event of accidents, and in principle, direct receipt by the patient is recommended. When proxy prescriptions are permitted, documents such as the proxy recipient’s ID (or a copy), proof of relationship to the patient, a proxy prescription application form, and the patient’s ID must be prepared.
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