Singer Lee Gi-chan's pharmacy busking draws pharmacist concern; agency denies violation
In short
Singer Lee Gi-chan (이기찬) has been performing his song 'Gamgi' (감기) at pharmacies across South Korea to promote a remake released last month. The Korean Pharmaceutical Association (대한약사회) said it is concerned the shows could serve as a tool to attract customers and promote drug sales. His agency, Aipidi Studio (아이피디스튜디오), said on 19 October that it had sought legal advice and found no violation, and on 22 October that no purchases were induced and no payment was taken from pharmacies.
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Singer Lee Gi-chan (이기찬) has been touring pharmacies in South Korea singing his hit 'Gamgi' (감기), which has drawn both audience praise and pharmacist concern. Yonhap reported on 18 October that he released 'Gamgi (2026)', a remake of his 2002 song, last month and began the 'pharmacy busking' to promote it, taking the idea from the song's title. This month he has performed at pharmacies in Chuncheon, Seoul, Daejeon, Chungju and Incheon, and his Instagram schedule lists further shows in Daegu, Busan and Incheon by the end of the month. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Some pharmacists have said the shows could end up promoting particular pharmacies. Yonhap, Asia Economy and Korea Economic Daily noted that the Pharmacy Act enforcement rule bars pharmacy owners from soliciting consumers or patients, and that local public health centres are reported to have judged that pharmacy performances may amount to inducing patients. Seoul Shinmun and Maeil Business wrote that current law has no rule banning a singer from performing in a pharmacy as such, so the question is whether the shows serve as a way to attract customers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
An official of the Korean Pharmaceutical Association (대한약사회) told Yonhap the association does not oppose singers' performances or TV appearances but is concerned that in-pharmacy shows could be used to attract customers or promote drug sales. The official said some pharmacies that hosted shows are warehouse-type pharmacies the association opposes, citing possible drug misuse, and that even if the singer's intent is pure, it could look like marketing. Seoul Shinmun also reported that audiences at some shows are known to have received vitamins. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
Lee's agency, Aipidi Studio (아이피디스튜디오), responded on 19 October that it had sought legal advice and judged that nothing violated the law. It said it knew soliciting crowds or handing out medicine on site was not allowed, and would keep reviewing the law and hear pharmacists' views. CBS NoCut News reported the agency as saying it asked a public health centre, was told there is no explicit ban on performing but that customers must not be induced, and blurs footage to avoid legal problems. On 22 October, Chosun Ilbo reported the agency saying in an official statement that Lee had neither induced medicine purchases nor received payment from pharmacies. Korea Economic Daily and Maeil Business wrote that no violation has been confirmed. [ 3 , 5 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 14 ]
Lee said on the tvN programme 'You Quiz on the Block' (유 퀴즈 온 더 블럭), aired on 14 October, that the idea of linking pharmacy busking with 'Gamgi' got a good response, that he gained the nickname 'Gamgi-chan', and that he would keep performing until flu-vaccination season ends. Hankook Ilbo quoted him as saying he visited 13 pharmacies in three to four days. Korea Economic Daily reported he said fewer stages were left for him to sing on. Korea Economic Daily and Seoul Shinmun reported that pharmacies now request him and that he has received an advertising offer from a pharmaceutical company. On 12 October, Kangwon National University Hospital appointed him ambassador of its flu-prevention campaign. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 10 , 13 ]
Why it matters
The dispute raises the question of where a pharmacy performance ends and the ban on soliciting customers begins. Outlets note that no rule bans performing in a pharmacy as such, and that whether any single show broke the law has not been established.
Key facts
- Lee Gi-chan released 'Gamgi (2026)', a remake of his 2002 song 'Gamgi', last month and began performing it at pharmacies to promote it. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Yonhap reported on 18 October that he had performed at pharmacies in Chuncheon, Seoul, Daejeon, Chungju and Incheon this month, with further shows scheduled in Daegu, Busan and Incheon by the end of the month. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- A Korean Pharmaceutical Association official said the association does not oppose singers performing but is concerned that in-pharmacy shows could be used to attract customers or promote drug sales. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The Pharmacy Act enforcement rule bars pharmacy owners from soliciting consumers or patients; local public health centres are reported to have judged that pharmacy shows may amount to inducing patients. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Lee's agency said on 19 October that it had taken legal advice, believed nothing violated the law, and knew it must not solicit crowds or hand out medicine on site. [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]
- On 22 October the agency said in an official statement that Lee had never induced purchases of medicine through the shows or received payment from a pharmacy. [ 14 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Lee Gi-chan has toured pharmacies singing 'Gamgi' to promote the remake 'Gamgi (2026)'. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- A Korean Pharmaceutical Association official voiced concern that pharmacy shows could be used for customer attraction or drug-sales promotion, and said some of the pharmacies involved are warehouse-type pharmacies the association opposes. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Current law has no rule banning a singer from performing in a pharmacy, but bars pharmacy owners from soliciting or inducing customers and patients. [ 4 , 5 , 10 ]
- Lee's agency, Aipidi Studio, said it had received legal advice and judged that nothing violated the law. [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 13 ]
Still unclear
- Whether any individual performance broke the Pharmacy Act. Korea Economic Daily and Maeil Business state that no violation has been established; the agency denies any violation, while some pharmacists and public health centres have raised the possibility.
- Whether audiences received vitamins at some shows. Only Seoul Shinmun reports this, saying it is 'known' to have happened at some sites; the agency's statements say it knows medicine must not be handed out on site.
- What the full 22 October agency statement says about the legal review. The available text of the Chosun Ilbo item is a truncated summary.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 18 October Yonhap reports on Lee's pharmacy busking and the pharmacists' concerns. [ 1 ]
- On 19 October Maeil Business reports that Lee's side says it checked the law beforehand and that no violation occurred. [ 7 ]
- On 19 October Newsis reports the agency's statement that it sought legal advice and will review the law and hear pharmacists' views. [ 8 ]
- On 20 October CBS NoCut News reports the agency saying it asked a public health centre and was told not to induce customers. [ 10 ]
- On 22 October Chosun Ilbo reports the agency's official statement denying purchase inducement and payment from pharmacies. [ 14 ]