South Korean President's office bought 360 Viagra pills 'for altitude sickness'
Revelations by an opposition politician in South Korea that the office of President Park Geun-hye purchased about 360 Viagra pills and the generic version of the drug have been confirmed.
While the report has created a frenzy on the internet, Ms Park's office said the pills were bought to potentially treat altitude sickness for presidential aides and employees on his trips to Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya, whose capitals are 0.6 to 1.2 miles above sea level.
The pills were not used, said spokesman Jung Youn-kuk.
South Korean doctors sometimes prescribe Viagra-style drugs to climbers because they are believed to be effective in preventing altitude sickness.
The presidential office also purchased a variety of injection drugs used for fatigue and anti-ageing treatment, according to the office of politician Kim Sanghee.
Ms Park's spokesman explained that the presidential office purchases drugs for the president's entire staff including security officers.
The Viagra revelation is the latest twist in a massive political scandal building around Ms Park.
She is bracing for an impeachment push by opposition parties and some members of her own Saenuri Party amid allegations that she let a secretive confidante manipulate government affairs and amass an illicit fortune.
