G-Dragon
G-Dragon, of the phenomenally famous but troubled band ‘BIGBANG’, is being investigated for alleged drug usage, police announced Thursday, becoming the latest South Korean entertainer to face such an investigation.
South Korea has exceptionally strict drug laws, and even Koreans who use marijuana legitimately in other countries face imprisonment when they return home.
President Yoon Suk Yeol said this year that the country was no longer ‘drug-free’ and urged for more steps to combat drug traffickers.
On Thursday, police in Incheon claimed they had opened an investigation into G-Dragon’s case, but declined to elaborate on the claims against him.
The news comes only days after authorities opened an investigation into ‘Parasite’ actor Lee Sun-kyun, who is accused of smoking marijuana and other psychotropic drugs.
Lee, who was once known for his benign image, has been pulled from his ongoing broadcast and commercial assignments.
Yoo Ah-in, another well-known actor, was indicted earlier this month for alleged drug use.
BIGBANG is one of South Korea’s most successful boy bands, selling at least 140 million records worldwide since its debut in 2006. However, its members have frequently been in the spotlight for inappropriate behavior.
Seungri, a member of the group, departed from show business in 2019 amid escalating criminal investigations and was later sentenced to 18 months in prison for, among other things, selling women to possible investors for sexual services.
T.O.P, who claimed in May that he had withdrawn from BIGBANG, received a suspended jail sentence in 2017 for marijuana use.
G-Dragon was also investigated for marijuana use in 2011 but was released without charges at the time.
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