The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has referred an individual to prosecutors for illegally selling prescription drugs, including glutathione injections, commonly known as "white jade injections."
On August 12, the agency announced that it had sent A, who is accused of violating the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, to prosecutors for illegally selling approximately 160 million won worth of glutathione injections and other prescription drugs.
The Central Investigation Team for Food and Drug Safety received information that glutathione injections and Cinderella injections, used for skin beauty treatments, were being illegally distributed through online information-sharing cafes, prompting an investigation.
The investigation revealed that A, a pharmaceutical sales representative, illegally sold a total of 2,293 units of over 100 types of prescription drugs worth 160 million won to 156 buyers through direct transactions and delivery from April 2025 to April 2026.
It was confirmed that the buyers purchased these prescription drugs for skin whitening, antioxidant effects, and to enhance performance during exercise or recover from fatigue, all without a doctor's prescription.
While glutathione is a substance produced in the body, it is known that administering it in high doses via injection can lead to side effects.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety emphasized that the illegally sold prescription drugs were used for purposes not approved by regulatory authorities, such as skin beauty treatments, and warned that misuse could lead to severe side effects, including cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, and shock due to respiratory distress. They urged that these drugs should only be used under a doctor's prescription.
Additionally, the agency has requested the prosecution to seize 70 million won in criminal proceeds obtained by A under the Act on the Regulation and Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment.
The Ministry stated, "We will continue to actively crack down on illegal sales of pharmaceuticals and impose strict penalties to protect public health and safety."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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