When that celeb is a K-pop idol, the impact is greatest of all – and that fate has just befallen former BtoB member Jung Il-hoon. He was still an active member of the group when he was caught using marijuana last year, and was on Thursday (June 10) sentenced to two years in prison and fined 133 million won (US$120,000). 

While the internet is buzzing with the news, it’s worth remembering that this is not the first time there’s been a drug-related scandal in the Korean music scene. Here’s the full story, and four more times that marijuana made headlines in Korean celebrity news. 

Jung Il-hoon from BtoB

Jung Il-hoon, the main rapper of K-pop boy band BtoB, was charged with consuming marijuana in July 2020, as first disclosed to the public by Channel A in December that year. According to Korean media reports, Seoul Central District Court heard that Jung worked with seven other people to purchase marijuana over a 30-month span. His sentence refers to a total of 161 marijuana offences in that same time frame. 

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K-pop fans have questioned whether his May 28, 2020, enlistment in the military was related to the charge date. As there are investigations before someone is prosecuted, there are suspicions that Jung chose to enlist to try and escape the furore.

According to Korea Times, prosecutors demanded four years imprisonment, commenting that the defendant used “sophisticated criminal tactics, including communications through the dark web and cryptocurrency-based payments, to cover up their offences”.

G-Dragon and T.O.P from BigBang

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G-Dragon’s drug scandal went public back in 2011 when, during his appearance on SBS’ Healing Camp, he explained how he “took a puff of a cigarette from someone he didn’t know at the after-party in Japan in May 2011”. According to his account, after noticing the cigarette tasted weird, he says he threw it away.

But while a subsequent police urine test came back negative, a hair test returned a weak positive, according to Channel Korea. After G-Dragon admitted to the offence in July 2011, the Japanese police gave him a suspended sentence, as the amount of the substance found in him was so small and it was his first offence. Later on, in Healing Camp in 2012, he openly spoke about the case and apologised once again by saying: “I should have been more careful as a celebrity, but it was all my fault.”

In June 2017, Channel A reported that bandmate T.O.P too had been accused of using marijuana. In his case, the impact was greater as he was “actively” consuming and he admitted to consuming at least four times in 2016.

He was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and because he was doing his military service when he was caught, he lost his position as a conscripted policeman. He thus completed his military service as a public service worker – termed an dishonourable discharge. Today T.O.P’s media appearances are still reportedly restricted on some TV stations, including KBS and EBS.

Psy

The Gangnam Style king was arrested for the illegal consumption of marijuana in November 2001, though this didn’t attract much notice beyond Korea as K-pop was not popular internationally back then.

According to KBS, he consumed illegal drugs five times and he said the pressure of making good songs in a short period of time was the reason behind this. He admitted his guilt and paid a US$5,000 fine. 

Later on, in Healing Camp in 2012, Psy spoke about his marijuana scandal – as G-Dragon did. He remarked that he took some time off from promoting after the scandal, but the host Lee Kyung-kyu pointed out that he only took six months off. Psy explained the relatively short break by pointing out the scandal took place at the same time as the 2002 World Cup – which coincidentally relaunched the star to the public. Indeed, Psy’s return to the industry began after being interviewed by a reporter who was covering South Korean supporters but recognised the singer.