Psychiatrist Oh Jin-seung’s False Family Claims Spark Backlash

Healthcare professionals in South Korea are facing renewed public scrutiny following revelations that prominent psychiatrist Oh Jin-seung falsely claimed to have a family on his professional profile, triggering widespread criticism and ethical concerns across the medical community.

The controversy erupted when it was discovered that Oh, who practices at a well-respected Seoul medical institution, had fabricated personal details about having a wife and children on his clinic’s website and in media appearances. These fabrications came to light after a patient noticed inconsistencies in Oh’s personal anecdotes during therapy sessions and raised questions online.

In response to mounting pressure, Oh issued a public apology on Tuesday, acknowledging that he had invented the family narrative “to appear more relatable to patients with family-related issues.” He explained that he believed presenting himself as a family man would help establish credibility with certain patient demographics, particularly those seeking counseling for marital or parenting challenges.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has launched an investigation into the matter, with officials expressing concern about the potential breach of patient trust. “Medical professionals are held to the highest standards of honesty and integrity,” said KMA spokesperson Park Min-ji. “Patients share their most vulnerable experiences with psychiatrists, and that relationship must be built on absolute truth.”

Mental health experts have highlighted the particularly damaging nature of such deception in psychiatric practice, where therapeutic relationships rely heavily on trust and authenticity. Professor Kim Sang-woo of Seoul National University’s Department of Psychiatry noted, “The psychiatrist-patient relationship is fundamentally different from other medical specialties. When a psychiatrist fabricates personal details, it undermines the entire therapeutic process.”

The incident has sparked broader discussions about transparency in doctor-patient relationships across South Korea’s healthcare system. Several medical institutions have announced reviews of their practitioners’ professional profiles to ensure accuracy in public-facing information.

Patient advocacy groups have seized on the controversy to call for stricter verification processes. The Citizens’ Coalition for Better Healthcare issued a statement emphasizing that “patients deserve complete honesty from their healthcare providers, especially when making deeply personal decisions about mental health treatment.”

Some of Oh’s former patients have expressed feelings of betrayal upon learning about the fabrications. One anonymous patient told local media, “I shared my deepest struggles about my marriage with someone I thought understood family dynamics from personal experience. Finding out this was all made up feels like another trauma.”

The controversy emerges against the backdrop of growing mental health awareness in South Korea, where seeking psychiatric help has historically carried significant stigma. Mental health professionals have worked diligently in recent years to normalize therapy and counseling services in a society that has one of the highest suicide rates among developed nations.

Industry analysts suggest the incident could temporarily set back progress in destigmatizing mental healthcare. “Building public trust in psychiatric services has been a hard-won battle in South Korea,” explained healthcare analyst Choi Eun-ji. “Incidents like this risk reinforcing existing skepticism about the field.”

The Korean Association of Psychiatric Practitioners released a statement distancing the broader profession from Oh’s actions, emphasizing that “the vast majority of mental health professionals maintain the highest ethical standards and authenticity in their practice.”

Oh has temporarily suspended his practice while the investigation continues. His medical license remains valid pending the KMA’s findings and recommendations.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is monitoring the situation but has yet to issue formal guidance on the matter. Regulatory experts suggest the case may lead to updated guidelines regarding how healthcare professionals present personal information in professional contexts.

As the controversy continues to unfold, it has prompted reflection within South Korea’s medical community about the boundaries between personal and professional identities, and the ethical obligations healthcare providers have to represent themselves honestly to the patients who depend on them.