Psychiatrist Yang Jae Woong, known to many as EXID member Hani’s fiancé, is now facing a prosecutorial investigation over allegations of falsifying medical records related to a patient’s death.
On March 19th, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) announced that it had formally requested an investigation into Yang and five other medical staff members, including the attending on-call doctor and nurses, on charges of instructing or condoning the falsification of patient records.
The case stems from a tragic incident that occurred on May 27th last year at a hospital in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, which Yang operates. A woman in her 30s, identified as A, was admitted for treatment related to diet pill addiction but passed away while in care. Her family later filed a complaint with NHRCK, alleging that A had been subjected to excessive restraint and isolation without proper medical attention, ultimately leading to her death.
Following an investigation, NHRCK determined that portions of the patient’s medical records had been fabricated. The commission noted that although the attending physician had ordered A’s nighttime isolation and restraint twice, the records falsely stated that these directives came from the on-call doctor. Additionally, it was revealed that a nurse had placed A in isolation and later altered records to make it appear as though the decision had been approved by the on-call doctor.
NHRCK had determined such falsification of medical records had been a long-standing practice at the hospital—something the commission deemed impossible without Yang’s knowledge or approval. Moreover, despite the hospital’s official records stating that A had exhibited aggressive behavior, such as grabbing a doctor’s wrist, CCTV footage reportedly showed no such incident.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Yang remained silent on the matter until news broke in the media, at which point he issued a belated apology. Public outrage only intensified when it was revealed that just three days after A’s death, Yang had announced his engagement to Hani. The backlash forced the couple to postpone their wedding.
Yang later appeared at a government audit hearing but maintained that he could not acknowledge any wrongdoing on the hospital’s part. He has yet to issue a formal apology to A’s family.
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