Four people, including Yoo Ah-in's 'best friend' YouTuber and writer, booked

While actor Yoo Ah-in is being suspected of drug use, his acquaintances have also reportedly been booked on charges of violating the Narcotic Drugs Control Act.

According to the police on the 3rd, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Drug Crime Investigation Unit booked four people, including Mr. A, an acquaintance of Yoo Ah-in, on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act. These are people who stayed abroad with Yoo Ah-in and entered the country together on February 5th. Some are suspected of helping Yoo Ah-in administer drugs, while others are suspected of administering drugs themselves. Yoo Ah-in's acquaintances are known to be writers and YouTubers who graduated from art school.

The police believe that Yoo Ah-in received prescriptions on his behalf several times through multiple people around him as it became difficult to obtain duplicate prescriptions, and are investigating about 10 hospitals where Yoo Ah-in over-prescribed propofol or prescribed zolpidem on his behalf.

Zolpidem is a psychotropic medication used for short-term treatment of sleep disorders such as insomnia. Because it is addictive, it should not be prescribed or taken in excess of 10 mg per day, and it is recommended to prescribe a maximum of 28 tablets per month per person based on 10 mg. It is managed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and misuse, like propofol, is subject to punishment.

The police plan to summon Yoo Ah-in for questioning one more time next week.

Ryu Ye-ji, Ten Asia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr