Police’s drug use investigation went too far

Actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the 2019 Oscar-winning Parasite, was found dead. Lee, who had been under investigation for alleged drug use since October, is suspected to have ended his own life. It is shocking and saddening to lose a valuable actor who rose to stardom with acting that won over a global audience and critics. He underwent police grilling on three occasions. He insisted that he did not know what he consumed was a drug. He had been blackmailed by a bar hostess to whom he paid 350 million won ($270,290).

Koreans have somehow ended up becoming easy, passive prey to drugs. Teenagers drank free offers of drinks on the street without knowing that they contained drug elements.

Actor Yoo Ah-in faces a trial for drug use. Teenage drug use is also on the rise. Ads for vaping and marijuana have been found in university districts in Seoul and Gyeonggi. Authorities have stepped up a crackdown on drug use. Since President Yoon Suk Yeol commanded a war on drugs in October last year, the police and the prosecution have joined forces to arrest 12,700 people for suspected drug use as of August, far greater than the 12,387 who were caught last year.

But crackdowns alone cannot contain the spread of drugs. Due to easier access, prices have gone down to reach teens and those in their 20s. A police officer fell from an apartment while trying to crash into a drug party. Koreans are being executed for their use of drugs in China and Vietnam. Drug traders in Thailand and Cambodia are coming to Korea to sell more of their drugs in this country.

Various state offices — the police, prosecution, customs office, coast guard and intelligence agency — have been involved in coping with drug crimes. However, the command is weak due to the conflict between the prosecution and the police over their investigative authority. We may have to seriously consider establishing a separate agency devoted to cracking down on drugs. We need a more systematic and powerful approach backed by budgeting to effectively combat criminal drug networks that breach borders to target the young.

The tragedy of Lee also raises questions about police investigation methods. Allegations were made public for celebrities whose careers could be severely damaged by even a rumor about drug use. Big Bang member G-Dragon, or Kwon Ji-yong, said that he completed the questioning “while laughing” after he was released due to a lack of evidence of using drugs. Lee also tested negative for drug use. Police must reconsider their investigation principle of revealing the allegations of a celebrity purely based on tips from others.