Drug epidemic sweeps South Korea as ring run by university students busted

The mastermind behind a South Korean university drug ring busted by authorities recently wasn’t a stereotypical drug dealer.

The graduate of Yonsei University, one of the most prestigious Korean schools, was enrolled in a master’s programme at KAIST, another elite institution, when he opened a social club three years ago.

Run by himself and other university students, most of whom were in their 20s, the organisation soon turned into a criminal platform where LSD, meth, ketamine and other illicit drugs were consumed and traded.

Experts believe this case, announced by the prosecution on Monday, suggests the dire state Korea is in – that the drug epidemic has hit almost every corner of the country. They say this alarming trend is likely to continue unless the authorities take a drastic step to address the issue.

According to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office, the founder of the club and five other members were indicted on charges of selling and taking drugs for about one year from December 2022. Eight others who only used the drugs will not stand trial after prosecutors decided not to press charges on the condition that they take part in state-designated rehab programmes.

The club was set up for social activities among university students in 2021. But the founder began to use it as a platform for his illegal business after taking illicit substances for the first time in November 2022, according to the prosecution.

Using money from dealing drugs, the founder hosted parties and gatherings at luxury hotels, attracting around 300 members and making it the second-largest club of its kind nationwide.