Lead Actress from “A Gentleman’s Dignity” and “Discovery of Love” Suffers Second-Degree Burn During Dermatology Procedure

According to Herald Economy on March 20th, the Civil Division 18 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Park Joon-min) ruled that dermatologist B must compensate actress A with 48,039,295 KRW in a lawsuit where she initially sought 200 million KRW in damages.

The court recognized B’s negligence in failing to adjust the intensity and frequency of the procedure properly, which resulted in the injury.

The actress who suffered second-degree burns during a cosmetic procedure has later been revealed to be Yoon Jin-yi.

According to the entertainment industry on the 21st, Yoon Jin-yi sustained second-degree burns while undergoing a dermatological procedure in 2021, ahead of the broadcast of the KBS 2TV weekend drama “Young Lady and Gentleman.”

Incident Details

Actress Yoon Jin-yi, who debuted in 2012, gained recognition through hit dramas such as “A Gentleman’s Dignity” and “Discovery of Love“. She has since appeared in multiple dramas as both a lead and supporting actress and recently appeared on a variety show.

The incident occurred in May 2021. While under sedation, Yoon Jin-yi underwent three consecutive dermatological procedures, including ultrasound and laser treatments for wrinkle improvement. However, during the procedure, a wound developed on her left cheek. Despite this, dermatologist B only applied a hydrocolloid bandage and took no further action.

The injury turned out to be more severe than expected a second-degree burn. Since 2021, Yoon Jin-yi has undergone 50 sessions of burn treatment and scar restoration procedures at other hospitals and dermatology clinics, but the wound has yet to heal completely. A medical assessment determined that while the condition has gradually improved, the scar remains visible from a conversation distance of 2~3 meters.

This injury disrupted Yoon Jin-yi’s drama filming schedule. Shortly after the procedure, she was filming a weekend drama, where she had to spend 9.55 million KRW on CG work to remove the scar on screen.

Court Proceedings

During the trial, Yoon Jin-yi’s side argued that B should compensate her with 200 million KRW, citing negligence in performing three consecutive procedures without adhering to safety protocols or proper device usage. They further asserted that the shape of the wound suggests the treatment was performed at excessively high intensity or on the same area multiple times.

The court partially upheld Yoon Jin-yi’s claim, ruling that B had indeed been negligent. It reasoned that, given Yoon Jin-yi had previously undergone the same procedure without any issues, the injury was not due to an inherent skin condition but rather B’s improper handling.

However, the court limited the total compensation to approximately 50 million KRW instead of the 200 million KRW requested.

The breakdown of the damages awarded: 11.16 million KRW – Medical expenses already incurred, 11 million KRW – Estimated future medical expenses, 10.77 million KRW – Lost earnings (potential income she could have earned without the injury), 25 million KRW – Compensation for mental distress.

The court did not recognize the CG costs (9.5 million KRW) as part of B’s liability.

Neither party appealed the ruling, making it final and legally binding.