Drug arrests at all-time high, but impact questioned

Social Affairs

Published: 18 Dec. 2023, 19:17

Drug arrests at all-time high, but impact questioned

Actor Yoo Ah-in answers questions from reporters before his trial over drug-related charges at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Dec. 12. [YONHAP]

The number of people arrested in Korea on drug-related charges this past year reached 17,152, according to the National Police Agency (NPA) on Monday, breaking previous annual figures.

The figure, which includes people detained on charges of illegal possession, administration and distribution of drugs, excludes people who were arrested in December.

The number of drug-related arrests disclosed by police marks a 38.5 percent increase from the previous record of 12,387, which was set last year.

According to the age-based breakdown provided by the NPA, the number of teenagers arrested by police on drug-related charges exhibited the steepest increase, with 1,025 people under the age of 20 being arrested between January and November this year.

The number of teenagers arrested for drug-related charges hovered between 100 and 300 in recent years.

The age group with the highest number of people arrested on drug-related charges this year was people in their 20s, who numbered 5,468, followed by 3,380 people in their 30s.

The amount of illegal drugs seized by police also increased significantly.

The amount of methamphetamine seized in the second half of this year was 21.7 kilograms (47.8 pounds), up 53.9 percent from 14.1 kilograms last year.

Over 23,573 opium poppies were also seized this past year, marking an 80.8-percent increase from 13,037 poppies confiscated last year.

The amount of ketamine confiscated by police increased 23.3 percent from last year, reaching 3.7 kilograms.

According to the police agency, clubs were the most popular venues where illegal drug use occurred, accounting for 38.8 percent, while karaoke parlors and other entertainment facilities accounted for 31.2 percent and 23.7 percent.

Police said that 672 drug-related arrests took place in clubs this past year, marking a significant jump from 454 arrests in clubs last year and a marked rise from 182 drug-related arrests in 2019.

Police also said that they caught 2,379 people suspected of dealing drugs this past year, more than doubling the number of people charged with drug distribution last year.

Over 700 foreigners have been arrested on drug-related charges this past year, making up 12.9 percent of the total, according to police.

The largest nationality group among foreign suspects was China with 235 people arrested, followed by 216 from Thailand, 170 from Vietnam, 21 from Uzbekistan, 18 from Russia and 14 from the United States.

However, it remains unclear whether the police’s intensive crackdown on illegal drugs has actually reduced drug use.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to reporters, an official from the NPA said that the price of illegal drugs should increase if supplies diminish but noted that prices are actually “estimated to be continuously trending downward because of increased supply.”

Several celebrities, including actors Lee Sun-kyun and Yoo Ah-in, have faced high-profile investigations into their alleged use of illegal drugs in recent months.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]