In March, several police officers entered a dermatology clinic building in Gangnam, Seoul.

When they opened a small refrigerator, they discovered a pile of syringes filled with a cloudy white liquid—medical-grade propofol.

The police conducted the search and seizure after capturing evidence of illegal propofol administration at the clinic since June of last year.

The dermatology clinic is currently closed.

It is reported that the illegal administration of the drug took place secretly in the clinic's procedure rooms, day and night.

Police found that no medical records were kept and that payments were accepted only in cash, with a minimum of 300,000 won per session.

Over 28 million won in cash was found in the hospital safe, and the profit earned from illegal propofol administration over nine months is estimated at 200 million won.

Police also uncovered evidence that the clinic's office manager used a customer list from a previous workplace for business purposes and actively recruited people for illegal injections through social media advertisements.

[Interview] Park Hyun-chul / Chief of Detective Division, Suwon Jangan Police Station: "It was confirmed that they promoted the clinic through an app, guided customers who visited after seeing the posts about propofol administration, and then proceeded with the injections."

Furthermore, the office manager and one nurse are already suspects under investigation for illegal propofol use while working at a different dermatology clinic previously.

A total of six hospital staff members have been apprehended so far, and 12 individuals have been identified as having received illegal injections.

Police have arrested two people, including the clinic director and the office manager, on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act, and are investigating the specific details of the crimes, such as whether they used leftover propofol intended for legitimate medical procedures for illegal injections.

"Cash Only" Day and Night... 'Piles' Found in Dermatology Clinic Refrigerator (June 25, 2026, 8 O'Clock News)

Reported by Lim Ji-hyun | Written by Bae Jun-hwi | Video reported by Lee Sang-hak | Video edited by Jung Yong-hwa | Produced by SBS Digital News