Roberta

Luo Beier (罗贝儿), born in Hong Kong, is the granddaughter of Hong Kong textile magnate Luo Dingbang (罗定邦). Her father, Luo Jiajū (罗家驹), was Luo Dingbang’s sixth son. After Luo Dingbang died in 1996, his estate was inherited by his six children; Luo Jiajū went on to found Jianhao Property Company. Luo Beier has an older sister, Luo Juner (罗君儿), who was kidnapped in 2015.

In January 2020, Luo Beier underwent liposuction and breast augmentation at a cosmetic clinic in the Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea. During the procedure she had an adverse reaction to the sedative propofol, fell into a coma, and could not be revived despite resuscitation efforts. Police investigations found that there was no anesthesiologist on site, that the necessary basic preoperative checks had not been carried out, and that the patient consent form had been signed by a clinic representative. The doctor involved, surnamed Kim, was charged with professional negligence causing death and handed over to the police for further action.

The case drew public attention and prompted calls for stronger regulation of South Korea’s cosmetic surgery industry. Police emphasized that propofol should be administered under the supervision of a qualified anesthesiologist, and that failure to follow proper protocols can have grave consequences. The incident drew parallels to the death of pop star Michael Jackson, who also died from respiratory depression related to propofol, underscoring the need for strict control over anesthetic drugs.

On the legal front, in March 2020 Luo Beier’s husband, Xu Yinglong (徐英龙), filed a lawsuit in a Hong Kong court accusing the clinic of negligent homicide and document forgery. He sought compensation for lost annual income and one-third of his father‑in‑law’s estate. However, because Luo Jiajū opposed the action, Xu ultimately withdrew the lawsuit. The case strained family relationships and heightened public concern about medical safety and legal accountability.

Overall, the Luo Beier incident not only exposed regulatory gaps at certain medical facilities but also prompted industry-wide reflection on safety standards. The absence of an on-site anesthesiologist and the lack of necessary preoperative checks were identified as key problems, serving as a warning for improving safety management in future cosmetic surgeries.