2023 is the year when the entertainment industry revolved around various drugs scandals
Most of the controversial artists are from YG?
It is hard to ignore the fact that most singers who caused a stir with a drug scandal this year or will return after a drug scandal are from
YG Entertainment. iKON’s former member B.I., WINNER’s former member Nam Tae-hyun, Big Bang’s former member Seungri, T.O.P, G-Dragon, to name a few.
How they made their comeback
B.I. was sentenced to three years in prison and four years of probation in September 2021 for allegedly using cannabis and LSD in 2016. In June this year, he made an official comeback with the release of the new album “TO DIE FOR.” The singer bowed his head repeatedly at press conferences, but was criticized by the public for resuming his activities when his probation period was not over. Recently, B.I. seems to be focusing mainly on overseas activities due to negative public opinions in Korea, such as releasing a global EP “Love or Loved Part.2” with English lyrics and wrapping up a tour of 16 cities in Europe.
Nam Tae-hyun is the most active after causing a stir with his drug scandal. Nam Tae-hyun was indicted for taking methamphetamine in August and December last year. It was his second crime after being suspended for smoking marijuana last year. At his second trial held this month, Nam was sentenced to two years in prison by the prosecution.
Nam Tae-hyun admitted all of the charges from the first trial. However, unlike B.I., he is mentally and physically broken to the point where he cannot return to the music industry. Nam Tae-hyun has actively shown his will to rehabilitate himself. Currently, Nam is voluntarily admitted to a drug addiction rehabilitation center in Incheon and is receiving treatment. He appeared in current affairs and documentary programs to share about the seriousness of his drug addiction. The singer even appeared at the National Assembly’s parliamentary audit in October as a reference and emphasized that the system to treat drug addicts should be further supplemented.
After controversy over drug administration, Choi Seung-hyun, Big Bang’s T.O.P, caused a stir for appearing in “Squid Game 2.” Choi was sentenced to 10 months in prison and two ears of probation for inhaling marijuana while serving as a police officer in 2017. Choi was declared “unfit” for re-service to the police, and completed his mandatory military service as a social service worker instead. Afterwards, he announced that he would leave Big Bang.
Meanwhile, G-Dragon has been embroiled in a drug scandal since October, involving actor Lee Sun-kyun. However, his attitude toward the drug controversy was completely different from that of the above ex-convicts. After stressing that he did not take drugs five times through his legal representative, he voluntarily appeared at the police’s investigation last month for questioning. Both his temporary reagent drug test and the precision drug test turned out negative. Eventually, the police announced that they would judge G- Dragon as “not guilty,” and his charges will likely be lifted.
How does the public view the return of a drug offender celebrity?
Drug using celebrities appearing on broadcasts can have a more negative effect on teenagers to 20s than drug crimes in society. Accordingly, there are voices calling for restricting the appearance of drug offenders. Currently, each broadcaster is deliberating on broadcast appearances of celebrities with drug records through its own internal regulations. Even if one celebrity was on drugs, there is no difficulty for them in appearing on TV if they are popular and have a ripple effect.
In response, it was pointed out that this year’s parliamentary audit needs a standard guideline for the TV appearance of drug offenders.
Kim Young-sik, a member of the People’s Power Party, pointed out, “The public is angry that drug offenders return after briefly self-reflecting and receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in appearance fees.” In response, Lee Dong-kwan, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, said, “Now, terrestrial broadcasters such as KBS and MBC have their own internal regulations on prohibiting drug offenders from appearing on broadcasts, but we will review and implement it to see if it can be more generalized.”
Source: Seoul Economics
