Singer Lee Ki-chan. [Herald POP (now Herald Muse) via]
Singer Lee Ki-chan. [Herald POP (now Herald Muse) via]

The agency of singer Lee Ki-chan has pushed back against claims that his "pharmacy busking" tour — in which he performs his hit song "Gamgi" (Cold) at pharmacies across the country — may violate the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, saying there is "no legal violation."

A representative of Lee's agency, IPD Studio, said Monday that the company had "confirmed the relevant details and continuously sought legal advice," adding that "there is no legal violation in performing at a pharmacy."

The representative said the agency had checked for potential Pharmaceutical Affairs Act violations from the outset, given the nature of the performances. After consulting with a local public health center, the agency was told there is no explicit prohibition on performances themselves, but that acts intended to lure customers are not permitted.

"We were aware that soliciting audiences or distributing pharmaceuticals or other items on-site were not allowed, and we approached the performances with that in mind," the representative said. "We have not engaged in any such conduct during the actual performances."

The representative added that any footage that should not be included in videos the agency releases would be blurred or otherwise edited to ensure there are no legal issues.

Under Article 44 of the Enforcement Rules of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, pharmacy operators are prohibited from improperly drawing in patients or consumers through banners, touts or promotional gifts. While no provision explicitly bans celebrity performances at pharmacies, local public health centers are understood to have taken the view that such performances could constitute an act of patient solicitation.

Lee launched the pharmacy busking series last month after releasing "Gamgi (2026)," a new recording of his 2002 song, playing on the track's title — "gamgi" means cold or flu in Korean. This month alone, he has visited pharmacies in Chuncheon, Seoul, Daejeon, Chungju and Incheon, with performances in Daegu, Busan and Incheon still scheduled through the end of the month.

Appearing on tvN's "You Quiz on the Block" on Wednesday, Lee said he had thought it "would be fun to connect pharmacy busking with 'Gamgi,'" and that the response had been positive. The performances have drawn wide attention and earned him the nickname "Gamgichan." On Tuesday of last week, he was appointed as a promotional ambassador for a flu prevention campaign at Gangwon National University Hospital.


dbsdn1110@heraldcorp.com