Cannabis has played an important role in South Korean’s lives in the past to treat several medical ailments and create textiles. Due to the country’s harsh laws, it’s become taboo to consume marijuana, and the police can severely punish people. K-pop has become a global phenomenon, currently trending all over the internet and gaining billions in revenue. While stars are always in the news for their music, there are times when K-pop idol drug scandals make the headlines. Negative press can be a devastating ordeal for a celebrity’s career, especially when they’re a K-pop idol in South Korea. The vast majority of the world still regards it as an illegal drug. If cannabis is legal in your country, don’t take its legalization for granted. Why not get some potent cheap marijuana seeds and start cultivating your own to explore all of its benefits and amazing effects? We explore K-pop and how cannabis laws have affected celebrities’ lives in South Korea. Read on to know all about the K-pop drug scandals and their impact on their careers.
What is K-pop?
You’ve probably heard this term a couple of times and wondered what K-pop is or the hype surrounding it. The term K-pop stands for Korean popular music and is mainstream entertainment originating from South Korea. K-pop encompasses different musical elements and genres, including hip-hop, Korean rock music, and E.D.M., to name a few. K-pop artists are treated like athletes and often join entertainment companies in their teens. They go through intense training programs to work on choreography, singing, and foreign language. If they’re talented enough, they’re chosen for a specific idol group and have to hold an almost perfect standard to maintain their careers. With this in mind, you can imagine how a K-pop idol drug scandal can impact their careers.
5 K-pop idol’s cannabis scandals
Let’s look at K-pop cannabis scandals and the famous stars who faced harsh laws against cannabis consumption in South Korea.
Jung Il-hoon
Most recently, Jung Il-hoon from BTOB was arrested for purchasing cannabis on 161 occasions between 2016 and 2019 with seven other defendants. The Korean police found that Jung and the rest acquired the marijuana through cryptocurrency payments. In June 2020, Jung appealed his sentence of two years in jail and the fine of approximately 133 million won (around $108,450) during his first trial. In the second trial, he was unlucky, and the court decided to sentence him to two years of imprisonment and fined him 126.6 million won (about $105,000). Jung submitted over 80 statements since the appeal trials had begun. In May 2020, he enlisted as a public service worker and left the K-pop group BTOB later that year in December.
G-Dragon (aka Kwon Ji-Yong)
In May 2011, a K-pop drug scandal arose when G-Dragon from Bigbang was accused of smoking marijuana. During an interview on a talk show, ’Healing camp,’ G-Dragon explained that he “took a puff of a cigarette from someone he didn’t know” at an after-party, in Japan in May 2011. He explained that he threw it away after noticing that it tasted weird. G-Dragon was urine tested, which returned negative; however, the results of his hair test returned weak positive traces of marijuana. In July 2011, the K-pop idol admitted to the offense and was given a suspended sentence as the amount found in him was minimal. In 2012, he spoke about the incident at ’Healing camp’ and apologized, saying, ”I should have been more careful as a celebrity, but it was my fault.”
T.O.P (aka Choi Seung-Hyun)
In 2017, another member of BigBang got caught up in a K-pop cannabis scandal. T.O.P had been accused of consuming marijuana, and his case was much more severe as he admitted to smoking a few times in 2016. T.O.P was suspended for two years and sentenced to ten months in prison. He completed his military service but lost his position as a conscripted policeman. T.O.P faced a dishonorable discharge and then completed his time as a public service worker.
Psy(aka Park Jae-Sang)
A K-pop drug scandal occurred when the global star Psy got arrested for consuming marijuana in November 2001. This arrest didn’t attract much attention outside of Korea, as K-pop wasn’t an international trend during that time. Psy claims that consuming illegal cannabis was brought on by the pressure of making music in such a short period. He admitted that he was guilty of smoking marijuana and had to pay a fine of 60 thousand won (about $5,000). In 2012, Psy spoke about the incident on a popular talk show, Healing camp. He mentioned that he took time off after the scandal but had to return shortly after. It was around the same time as the 2002 Soccer World Cup, which coincidentally kick-started Psy’s career.
B.I (aka Kim Hanbin)
In recent times, a K-pop drug scandal occurred when B.I of boy group iKON got arrested for attempting to purchase cannabis and LSD in 2016. A statement was sent out by the B.I’s label saying that “ Y.G entertainment strictly manages its artists for drug use.” Y.G. Entertainment said that they regularly drug test their artists. When they submitted urine tests to the authorities, all iKON members’ results tested negative for drug use. B.I shocked fans when he announced that he was leaving the group, stating he wanted to “… fully look back and reflect on my actions…”. South Korean shows went on to cancel his upcoming performances and interviews.
Know the laws before you puff and explore
Getting caught up in K-pop idol drug scandals is something nobody wants to experience. It’s great if cannabis is legal where you live, but it’s always wise to check other countries’ laws before lighting up on your travels. Today, in many countries around the world, we’ve seen an increase in the legalization of cannabis for recreational use. We often don’t think that other countries have different laws with severe consequences when broken. If you’re in a country or state that has legalized marijuana, consider yourself lucky; go ahead and light up. You have the freedom to cultivate and consume this amazing herb and take advantage of its holistic benefits.
