Uncertainty looms over Yoo Ah In’s return to the entertainment industry after drug scandal

Yoo Ah In, who is accused of taking drugs, is expected to be summoned by the police again.

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official said at a press conference held in Seoul on May 8th, “The investigation into Yoo Ah In is in the final stage. Additional investigation is planned soon.”

Earlier, the police booked four people related to Yoo Ah In on charges of violating the drug control laws and changed their status to suspects. The police also found evidence that Yoo Ah In had repeatedly obtained a sleeping pill-type hypnotic drug called “Zolpidem” through acquaintances. The four people are said to include a writer and a YouTuber who have revealed close relationships with Yoo Ah In.

Furthermore, the police are also investigating the medical facilities that prescribed Zolpidem to Yoo Ah In through his acquaintances.

Earlier on March 27th, Yoo Ah In attended the first summon investigation at the narcotics crime investigation division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. At that time, he said, “I was trapped in the wrong swamp in a self-rationalization that these deviant actions would not harm anyone.”

Will Yoo Ah In return soon? Many stars made a comeback within a year

Before the drug allegations broke out, Yoo Ah In was preparing for the release of the films “The Match,” “High Five,” and the drama “Goodbye Earth.” While the official release of his works has become uncertain due to his scandal, it is difficult to say that the release has been completely canceled.

In fact, records show that many celebrities who were involved in drugs went on self-reflection periods but managed to return within a year.

Actor Ha Jung Woo was fined 30 million won in September 2021 for the habitual use of propofol under his brother’s name Kim Young Hoon and manager from January 2019 to September 2019.

Ha Jung Woo made his comeback through Netflix’s original series “Narco-Saints” in September last year after taking a one-year hiatus for self-reflection.

In addition, actor Jung Seok Won confessed to the police during an investigation on February 9th, 2018 that he went all the way to Australia to take methamphetamine. At that time, Jung Seok Won was filming Netflix’s series “Kingdom” and he did not drop out of the project because the filming was almost completed. “Kingdom” was later released on January 25th, 2019.

Big Bang member T.O.P admitted to smoking marijuana through a handwritten apology letter he posted on June 4th, 2017. Nine months later, in March 2018, he participated in Big Bang’s single “Flower Road”.

Rapper E Sens released an album while serving his sentence for drug charges. Arrested in 2011 and 2014 for smoking cannabis, the male rapper released his first full album “The Anecdote” in 2015.

When will Yoo Ah In return? Experts say, “We must wait for the investigation result”

Many predict that it would not be easy for Yoo Ah In to make a comeback early. Like previous cases, the police are still investigating Yoo Ah In’s drug use history and expanded their investigation since more kinds of drugs and more people involved in the case are found.

An official in the entertainment industry said, “It’s too early to discuss his return at this point. We still need to wait for the results of the investigation. If Yoo Ah In is cleared of charges or if the investigation ends quickly, he could return sooner”, adding “However, if cocaine use is confirmed in the second investigation, it will not only affect the releases of his works but also make it difficult for the actor to return to the entertainment industry for the time being. This could lead to lawsuits for damages related to his upcoming projects and CF modeling contracts.”

Meanwhile, the police have converted all four of Yoo Ah In’s acquaintances who were investigated for drug use into suspects. Including a writer and a YouTuber, the suspects are those who accompanied Yoo Ah In when he returned to Korea from the U.S. on February 5th. The police initially investigated them as witnesses. However, after marijuana was found during an additional search and seizure of their residence at the end of last month, they all became suspects.

Source: Daum