As police prepare to transfer Park Wang-yeol, known as the 'Drug King,' for prosecution on November 3, potential connections to the infamous Burning Sun scandal are bringing renewed attention to the case.
Yoo Jae-sung, acting commissioner of the National Police Agency, addressed inquiries on November 2 regarding the investigation into Park Wang-yeol and the possibility of reopening the Burning Sun case. He stated, "If any connections are confirmed, we will proceed according to the law and principles." While no direct link between the two cases has been established, the police are not ruling out the possibility of a connection.
During the briefing, questions arose about whether celebrities or politicians are involved in the investigation. Yoo cautiously responded, "It is difficult to comment on ongoing investigations," leaving room for speculation. As the investigation progresses, there is potential for past drug-related incidents in the entertainment industry or issues related to nightlife establishments to resurface, drawing significant interest in how far the investigation might extend following Park Wang-yeol's transfer.
Park Wang-yeol, dubbed the 'Drug King,' was convicted in the Philippines for the 2016 murder of three Koreans in a sugarcane field and has been serving a lengthy sentence. Despite being incarcerated, he allegedly maintained communication with accomplices and distributed drugs worth billions of won in South Korea. Authorities believe he continued smuggling methamphetamine from bases in the Philippines and South Africa into 2024. Park was extradited to South Korea on March 25 and detained, with the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency designated as the lead investigative body, deploying 39 dedicated personnel.
The Burning Sun scandal erupted in 2018 following an assault incident at the Burning Sun nightclub in Seoul's Gangnam district, leading to investigations into drug distribution, sexual crimes, illegal filming, and tax evasion. Allegations of drug distribution within the club expanded the case into what became known as the 'Burning Sun Gate,' impacting the entertainment and nightlife industries. The involvement of Seungri, a former member of Big Bang, as a director of Burning Sun, further fueled public outrage.
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr