Backpacker's horror after male nurse spiked her tea while she was ill but claimed he added honey

By MATT JONES, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 03:29, 4 July 2026 | Updated: 03:30, 4 July 2026 A male nurse who was found guilty of spiking a woman's tea with a cannabinoid at a backpacker hostel in Byron Bay has made a remorseful statement after he was banned from practising for two years. Former registered nurse Euihyuk Byun was issued the order by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) on June 18. The decision was part of legal action brought against him by the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) on March 4, 2024.  The tribunal heard that, on the evening of December 15, 2022, Byun met a woman, who has not been named, while they were both staying at backpacker hostel The Surf House. When she told him she was feeling sick, he explained that he was a nurse and examined her throat, the tribunal was told. Byun, who was born in South Korea before moving to Australia to work as a nurse, told the woman that she should take vitamins and paracetamol before making her a cup of tea, which he said contained honey. However, the drink was laced with THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. The tribunal heard that Byun, who was first registered as a nurse in 2014, knew he had spiked the drink with THC but did not tell the woman before offering it to her.  Euihyuk Byun has been banned from nursing for two years by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal 'About 11.30pm, [the woman woke up] with her heart racing, confused and she felt high,' the tribunal decision noted. The woman walked to the hostel reception looking distressed and told a staff member she had woken up with a fast heart beat and 'felt anxious and was very worried'. While she was asking hostel staff for help, Byun said the drink contained only honey but later admitted he had added THC, the tribunal heard. The woman was taken by ambulance to Byron Bay Hospital where tests confirmed she had THC in her system and she said she felt 'creeped out', the tribunal heard. The next day, she reported the matter to police. Byun was charged in 2024 with giving a person a drink containing an intoxicating substance with intent to cause harm. He later pleaded guilty and was convicted. He was directed to enter into a Community Correction Order for two years and fined $1,500. Byun told the tribunal he first tried cannabis in 2012 and that from 2016 his use had escalated to three times per week, which is when it 'became problematic'. While staying at The Surf House in Byron Bay, Byun spiked a woman's tea with THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis  'At the time of the offence, my judgment was severely impaired by my own cannabis use,' Byun told the tribunal in a reflective statement. 'I developed cannabis use disorder rooted in unresolved childhood trauma, neglect, and a profound sense of family betrayal experienced in South Korea. 'Cannabis became my primary coping mechanism for managing emotional distress that had gone untreated for most of my adult life.' It was also alleged that on July 3, 2023, Byun made false and misleading statements to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW by saying he had never used illicit drugs. 'I made statements to the effect that I did not take illicit drugs and had never taken illicit drugs,' he told the tribunal. 'Those statements were not accurate, and I acknowledge that fully.' Byun said he did not intend to deceive the council but did so because he 'had not yet found the clinical support that would allow [him] to face it at all', the tribunal heard. In its decision, the tribunal found Byun had breached the trust placed in him as a registered nurse by administering an intoxicating substance without the woman's knowledge or consent. Byun told the woman her tea contained only honey (file image)  The tribunal disqualified Byun from being registered in nursing for two years and imposed an order forbidding him from providing any health services for the same period. 'I am deeply sorry for the harm I caused [the woman],' Byun said. 'I am sorry for the damage I caused to the nursing profession and to the public's trust in it.' The tribunal also ruled that, had Byun remained registered, it would have cancelled his registration. He was ordered to pay the HCCC's costs as agreed or assessed under legislation.  When contacted by the Daily Mail Australia for comment on the NCAT ruling, Byun apologised and said that, if he could, he would 'turn back time'.  'I sincerely apologise for what I did. I take full responsibility for it,' he said in a message on Friday night. 'I would not be able to fully understand how much I made the public feel betrayed, angry, upset, outraged and worried about their own safety and their family's safety. 'As a nurse who is trusted by the public, I should have known better and should never have done what I did. As an immigrant, I should have been a good member of society who provides good values to the society. 'I think about it every day and regret it every day. If I could, I would like to turn back time and not do it. I am sincerely sorry again for what I did.' Byun said he is trying his best to be a good member of society and is looking for volunteering jobs. The Daily Mail contacted The Surf House for comment.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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