Actor Yoo Ah-in under investigation for illegal propofol use

Actor Yoo Ah-in [YONHAP]

Actor Yoo Ah-in is currently under investigation for illegal usage of propofol, according to police on Thursday.

Yoo’s agency United Artists Agency (UAA) released a statement on the same day, confirming that the actor has recently been under police investigation regarding the usage of propofol, and added that the agency is “cooperating with all investigations relating to the matter and will actively rectify any issues.”

The agency did not specify when the actor was first caught, but he was first called in for questioning on Monday by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s drug investigation unit.

Propofol is a hypnotic sedative used for anesthesia. While the drug is still used for anesthetic purposes in hospitals, it has also been regulated as a psychotropic drug under the Narcotics Control Act in Korea since 2011.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety had recently reported to the Police that Yoo’s propofol usage is excessively high, asking for an investigation by the police.

Police have sent hair samples of the actor to the National Forensic Service for analysis and have enforced an overseas travel ban on Yoo.

There are also a handful of yet-to-be-released films and dramas starring Yoo Ah-in. Netflix movie “The Match,” which portrays the go match between renowned go players Cho Hun-hyun and Lee Chang-ho, Netflix drama “GoodBye Earth,” based on the dystopian Japanese novel of the same title, and sci-fi fantasy flick “Hi.5” all finished filming with Yoo as the lead role. Netflix series “Hellbound 2,” also with Yoo, was planned to start shooting this June. It is expected that the release date and filming schedules of such films and dramas may be adjusted.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]