Yoo Ah-in appears for second summons on drug charges

Actor Yoo Ah-in (real name Um Hong-sik), who is suspected of drug use, appeared for the second summons and investigation.

Yoo Ah-in attended the Drug Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Mapo-gu, Seoul around 9 am on the 16th. He appeared wearing a black suit. He quickly walked into the government building, saying, “I will faithfully participate in the investigation.”

Originally, Yoo Ah-in's second summons investigation was scheduled to be held on the 11th. However, Yoo Ah-in came all the way to the front of the government building and then turned back. Yoo Ah-in's legal representative said, "Mr. Eom Hong-sik wanted to participate in the investigation even in a situation where the attendance schedule was already made public, and the lawyer responded that even if the situation where the schedule had already been made public was unavoidable, he would not enter or leave through another route to comply with the principle of private summons." “We requested that possible measures be taken, but the police did not accept this,” he said.

In addition, "The police's summons to Mr. Eom Hong-sik was in fact a public summons, so we inevitably requested the police to discuss changing the date of attendance. Even during the summons process last March, the police announced that it was a private summons, but in fact, it was a public summons, so the defense attorney “The defense attorney is deeply concerned that the same situation occurred again during the current summons, despite having expressed his intention to protest once,” he said.

Then, on the 15th, the head of the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency said at a regular meeting, "The suspect (Yoo Ah-in) is reacting sensitively to the summons date. It would be better to adjust the appearance date as quickly as possible and be investigated, but if that is not possible, then “You will have to do it,” he said.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety requested the police to investigate, saying that Yoo Ah-in administered 4,497 mL of propofol 73 times from January 4, 2021 to December 23, 2021. On February 5, the police executed a search and seizure warrant for Yoo Ah-in's body at Incheon International Airport and conducted a quick urine test. As a result of the National Institute of Forensic Science analysis, three types of narcotic substances were detected in Yoo Ah-in's hair.

Propofol, which was suspected of habitual use, as well as marijuana, which tested positive in urine, and another third drug were detected. The third drug ingredients were cocaine and ketamine. Cocaine is highly addictive and hallucinogenic, so it is called one of the three major drugs along with methamphetamine and heroin. In addition, it was confirmed that medical staff were concerned about the frequent administration of propofol in several hospitals.

Kang Min-kyung, Ten Asia reporter kkk39@tenasia.co.kr