The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Wed, May 18, 2022 | 21:54
Drug Scandal Jolts Showbiz Industry
Posted : 2009-04-28 17:53
Updated : 2009-04-28 17:53
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down


Several More Top Entertainers on List of Suspects

By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter

Police are expanding their investigation into the smuggling and use of drugs involving movie stars and models.

In the latest drug bust of entertainers, police booked popular film star Ju Ji-hun, 27, on suspicion of drug use and arrest warrants were sought for actress Yun Seol-hee, 28, and model Ye Hak-young, 26, for alleged smuggling ecstasy tablets and ketamine into the country from Japan. Two other residents were booked on similar suspicions.

``Besides the suspects on the list we have secured, there are likely more, given the amount of drugs smuggled. Further investigations are unavoidable,'' an officer of the Seoul Metropolitan Policy Agency said.

Police officiers said the entertainers appear to have been tempted to use drugs on assumption that that ecstasy and other drugs kill the appetite, helping them reduce their weight. Ecstasy is a mildly hallucinogenic amphetamine and the most popular illegal drug in Korea, while ketamine, also illegal here, is a veterinary medicine that has a strong hallucinatory effect on humans in dilute doses.

Experts said that more popular stars are blacklisted as suspects who used the drugs smuggled in by Yun.

The latest scandal is jolting the entertainment industry, already reeling following the suicide of actress Jang Ja-yeon, who left a note accusing media and entertainment firms' presidents of forcing her to have sex with them.

Ju is a hallyu (Korean wave) star in Japan and is now expected to lose opportunities to appear in Japanese media, let alone appearances on domestic TV programs or movies. He was scheduled to have a fan meeting in Tokyo next month.

Ju is a model-turned-actor who debuted in the 2006 drama ``Princess Hours,'' with the role of a crown prince of Korea. He recently starred in the movies ``Antique'' and ``The Naked Kitchen'' and the musical ``Don Juan.'' He was going to shoot the drama ``Tokyo Tower'' next month, but the role is going to be given to another actor.

Ju admitted to using drugs, saying he took them when he was drunk at a party at Ye's house, according to police. Since both Ju and Ye are models-turned-actors, the entertainment industry expects other colleagues to be implicated in the scandal.

Many fans are disappointed. ``I was surprised at the news of Ju's drug use. Drug scandals involving entertainers seem to never end,'' said Kim Dong-hyun, 28, a graduate student.

Many other entertainers have also been caught for drug use. Actress Hwang Su-jung was caught using philopon ― an amphetamine ― in November 2001. She was known for her elegant image, but an attempted comeback was unsuccessful even years after the scandal. Singer Psy, or Park Jae-sang, was caught in the same month for smoking marijuana. Actresses Sung Hyun-ah was caught for taking ecstasy in 2002; Kim Boo-seon for marijuana in 2004; and Ko Ho-kyeong for marijuana in 2006.

The drug busts of entertainers continued last year as well, including jazz vocalist Pak Sun-zoo and Steve Kim of hip hop group Uptown.

Some entertainers have campaigned for legalizing the use of drugs such as marijuana. Kim Boo-seon and singer Shin Hae-chul, both caught for drug use, have insisted that marijuana should be legalized in Korea.

However, the difference this time is that Yun and Ye smuggled the narcotics themselves ― police believe they did this to limit the possibility of exposure.

Some experts cited relatively light punishment on drug users as one of the key reasons behind the scandals. Some have successfully returned to the business years afterward.

Bae Kuk-nam, a culture critic, said, ``They can make a return after drug scandals but their wrongdoing is engraved in people's memories.''

meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr
 
  • Competition heats up in urban air mobility market
  • 5 Woori Bank branches open exclusively for foreign customers every Sunday
  • India's wheat export ban feared to raise prices of bread, instant noodles
  • The Collective brings 'Bootycandy' to Korea
  • As China says goodbye to 2023 Asian Cup, should Korea step in?
  • Immigrant voter turnout declines in local elections
  • Air Seoul to resume Incheon-Boracay flights next month
  • Ex-baseball coach accused of assault suspended for 100 games by KBO
  • Korean volunteer fighter in Ukraine doesn't regret his action despite facing imprisonment at home
  • Gov't urged to increase support for creators when K-culture is hot
  • BTS wins three Billboard Music Awards, marking 6th year to win an award BTS wins three Billboard Music Awards, marking 6th year to win an award
  • Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface
  • Yeo Jin-goo offers glimpse of his role in new series 'Link: Eat, Love, Kill' Yeo Jin-goo offers glimpse of his role in new series 'Link: Eat, Love, Kill'
  • How did TikTok become main marketing tool for K-pop? How did TikTok become main marketing tool for K-pop?
  • 'Broker,' 'Decision to Leave' to kick off summer blockbuster season 'Broker,' 'Decision to Leave' to kick off summer blockbuster season
DARKROOM
  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

  • End of mask mandates

    End of mask mandates

  • Rio Carnival returns after two-year hiatus

    Rio Carnival returns after two-year hiatus

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group