Celebrity drug scandals highlight surging problem in South Korea

Experts cite societal stress, increasing exposure to Western culture as factors

- Wendy Teo

SEOUL - The suicide of Parasite actor Lee Sun-kyun, driven to despair at the peak of his career over a drug scandal, has cast the spotlight on South Korea's growing drug problem, fuelled by young people becoming more open to taking illegal substances.

Despite President Yoon Suk-yeol ordering a crackdown on drug crimes last April, numbers have continued to surge, with a recordhigh 22,393 drug offenders arrested from January to October 2023 a jump of nearly 50 per cent from the same period the year before.

A special drug investigation unit created as part of President Yoon's crackdown on drug crimes said that 5 per cent of the total number of offenders are teenagers, with those in their 20s making up another 30 per cent.

Drugs seized by the Korea Customs Service during border checks also significantly increased by 30 per cent from the first nine months of 2022 to reach 493kg in the same timeframe in 2023.

Experts told The Sunday Times that drug use is still very much taboo in conservative South Korean society, but stress from a highly competitive society and increasing exposure to Western culture have led to more drugs being consumed.

Dr Kim Hyung-keun, director of the Seoul Addiction Institute of Psychology, said the stakes are even higher for celebrities, who are constantly in the spotlight.

"Celebrities receive a lot of attention on stage, but the moment they go offstage, it can leave them feeling quite empty. With the constant effort required to maintain their popularity, this can lead to excessive pressure," Dr Kim told ST.

Dr Kim, who has 25 years of experience in counselling, added that people under intense stress are more susceptible to temptation, especially since taking drugs is believed by some to help with relaxation.

"In celebrity circles, there is probably more exposure to drug usage," he said.