Yoo Ah-in requests postponement of police appearance

Actor Yoo Ah-in (real name Um Hong-sik), who is suspected of drug use, requested that his police appearance schedule be postponed.

On the 23rd, lawyer Yoo Ah-in's lawyer, Infinity, said, "As you know, Mr. Eom Hong-sik is currently being investigated by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Drug Crime Investigation Unit in relation to drug use. The Drug Crime Investigation Unit will appear this Friday (March 24th) for questioning. “I was told to get it,” he said.

He added, "At the time, the police notified the lawyer that Mr. Eom Hong-sik's summons was a private summons, and regardless of whether notice was given, according to the 'Rules on Public Notice of Police Investigation Cases, etc.', the principle is that the summons of a suspect is kept private."

Infinity said, "However, as you know, the fact that Mr. Hong-sik Um will appear on Friday has been reported in all media, and among them, there is an article that the police confirmed the date and time of Mr. Hong-sik Um's appearance. As a result, Mr. Hong-sik Um's appearance is in fact a public summons. "It is clear that this violates the relevant laws and regulations. Therefore, as a lawyer, I inevitably requested that the police adjust the date of appearance," he explained.

“In addition, we would like to say once again that the request to adjust the attendance date is not at all an intention on the part of Mr. Um Hong-sik to intentionally delay his attendance. “We plan to cooperate. We apologize for any inconvenience caused regarding Mr. Hong-sik Um’s attendance, and we ask for your understanding.”

Recently, 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.

Recently, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Drug Crime Investigation Unit sent investigators to two locations to conduct search and seizure: Yoo Ah-in's home in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where he actually resides, and his home in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, which is his address on his resident registration.

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