Hong Jin-young Denies Any Ties to 'Injection Aunt,' Says Viral Photo Dates Back 12 Years

Singer Hong Jin-young is pushing back on rumors she’s close with the so-called “Injection Aunt,” who’s facing allegations of illegal medical procedures, saying there is “no connection whatsoever.”

On Dec. 23, IMH Entertainment issued a statement addressing a resurfaced photo of Hong and the woman that circulated via a YouTube channel on Dec. 22. According to the label, the shot appears to date back to the period after her breakout hit “Love Battery,” when she was promoting “Boogie Man.”

By their count, the photo is roughly 12 years old and was taken at a clinic. After reviewing the image herself, Hong said the moment is so far removed that she has no recollection of the woman pictured.

As for how the picture happened in the first place, the agency noted that throughout her career Hong has often posed for sponsored “proof” shots for products, brands and clinics, and this particular visit was simply too long ago for her to remember specifics.

They also emphasized that Hong and the woman were not following each other on social media.

The “Injection Aunt” controversy surfaced amid comedian Park Na-rae’s legal dispute with her former managers. Park was alleged to have received unlicensed IV drips and proxy prescriptions from a woman identified only as A, and no record of A holding a medical license in Korea has been found, further fueling the backlash.

The scandal has since widened, with SHINee’s KEY and mukbang YouTuber Short Mouth Sun also swept into speculation over possible ties to A.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)