[Journalism Internship] Drugs are in the media, and teens see

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[Journalism Internship] Drugs are in the media, and teens see

Published: 27 Jan. 2024, 00:23 Updated: 31 Jan. 2024, 15:18

HAN SO-EUN, LEE JI-YUL, YU SHI-HO, KIM NA-HYUN

The frequent coverage of celebrity drug usage in mainstream media has led to a romanticized view of drug use among adolescents in South Korea.

The year 2023, in particular, has seen a slew of celebrities accused of illegal drug use, resulting in thousands of news articles and online videos related to narcotics and other illegal substances. Public figures including actors Yoo Ah-in and Lee Sun-kyun as well as singer G-Dragon and composer Don Spike have become mired in public controversy.

Twenty-seven percent of new articles related to drugs mentioned celebrity names’ in one way or another during the years 2013 to 2023, according to a KBS investigation.

Actor Yoo Ah-in at the Incheon Nonhyun Police Station on Dec. 12, 2023 [NEWS1]

Korean actor Yoo was first summoned for questioning over allegations of illegal drug use on Feb. 6, 2023, making the headlines of newspapers and TV programs for days on end.

Soon after, entertainer Don Spike was sentenced to two years in prison for taking Philopon on June 15. Then came the biggest shock when “Parasite” (2019) lead actor Lee was booked for continuous substance abuse on Oct. 23. Idol singer G-dragon was also booked for substance abuse on Oct. 25, but was acquitted after several investigations.

The news coverage directly correlates to the public’s interest in drugs and the celebrities accused of taking them, according to data from Google Trends.

The word “drug” was searched 10 more times October 2023 than it was in January through September of that year. The names of Lee Sun-kyun and other actors accused of drug use also saw significant spikes during that period.

Searches for the names of various drugs, such as “ice,” “herb,” and “candy,” which young people use to refer to illicit substances, also increased. Googling such terms returns countless references to people attempting to sell or buy drugs on platforms such as Telegram. It’s practically a step-by-step guide for firsttime drug buyers.

Experts suggest that a direct link between celebrity drug scandals and increase in teenage drug abuse exists.

Celebrities are almost “worshiped” like idols in Korea, as the term K-pop idol implies, which means that youngsters are easily influenced by their behavior, even if it’s criminal, said Kim Hee-jun, a Korean attorney specializing in drug cases, in a recent interview.

And more teenagers have been found abusing drugs in recent years. A total of 5.2 percent of 1,174 total drug offenders, as of last October, were teenagers, according to a report released by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. This is a significant increase from last year, in which 419 drug offenders, or 2.8 percent of all prosecuted drug offenders, were teenagers.

“We need to provide sufficient information on the dangers to youth, so that they do not touch drugs, and establish a system that focuses on treatment and rehabilitation, rather than focusing only on punishment of putting them in prison,” Kim said.

The government and related organizations are taking action to tackle the issue.

High-profile participants in the “NO EXIT” campaign, including celebrities and government officials, began promoting an anti-drug message through social media on April 24. The title, “No Exit,” implies that it can be challenging to break free of drug addiction even after just one dose.

Celebrities such as actress Lim Jiyeon, broadcaster Jun Hyun-moo and singer Tae Jin-ah took photos with the slogan and other related images.

But despite those efforts, experts say that Korea still lacks systematic education on drugs and related crimes. Overcoming addiction is quite difficult, and the need for prevention systems and teenage education is increasing by the day.

“Korea is very lacking in drug prevention education,” the Korean anti-drug campaign headquarters said on Dec. 5, 2023. “The crime rate should be lowered by widely providing economically efficient prevention education.”

BY HAN SO-EUN, LEE JI-YUL, YU SHI-HO, KIM NA-HYUN [[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]]