Police arrest Lee Sun-kyun on suspicion of multiple drug use

Actor Lee Sun-kyun, aged 48, under suspicion of drug use, has been upgraded to the status of a suspect after being initially booked as a criminal.

On Monday, the drug crime investigation division within the Incheon Police Agency's metropolitan investigation unit announced that they booked Mr. Lee for violating the Narcotics Control Act. During their internal investigation, which was conducted as a preliminary inquiry regarding the suspicion of drug use involving Mr. Lee, the police uncovered specific details related to drug use, leading to his change in status to that of a suspect on the same day.

According to the police, Mr. Lee is under suspicion of using two or more types of drugs, including marijuana, on multiple occasions in Seoul, starting from the beginning of this year until recently. However, the police believe that Mr. Lee may have taken drugs in a location other than nightlife establishments and are verifying the drug use's precise whereabouts. With Mr. Lee now being categorized as a suspect, it is anticipated that the police will shortly issue a summons for him to appear at the police station.

The police had been investigating eight individuals, including Mr. Lee, in connection to this incident. On this day, they officially booked three people, namely Mr. Lee and two female staff in their 20s working at a nightlife establishment in Gangnam, Seoul.

In particular, Staff A, who is suspected of illegally using various types of psychotropic drugs, including methamphetamine, at her home from the beginning of this year until recently, was arrested last weekend. A is one of the individuals against whom Mr. Lee recently complained to the prosecution, accusing them of blackmail. Mr. Lee claimed, "I have been defrauded of hundreds of millions of won after continuously being subjected to blackmail and threats by individuals potentially involved in illegal drug use." It is reported that Mr. Lee had spoken with Staff A on the phone at least 10 times recently. On this day, the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office transferred the case filed by Mr. Lee to the Incheon Police Agency.


ksb@donga.com