Hwang Hana's Alleged Drug Connection Resurfaces Amidst 'Telegram Drug King' Extradition

Hwang Hana, the granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products, who previously faced controversy over drug use, is once again under scrutiny for allegedly using drugs distributed by Park Wang-yeol, known as the 'Telegram Drug King.'

Park Wang-yeol, extradited to South Korea on the 25th, is a real-life figure who inspired events in the film 'The Outlaws 2' and the drama 'Casino.' He is infamous for the 2016 murder of three Koreans in a sugarcane field in Bacolod City, Philippines. At the time, Park had fled to the Philippines after committing a 15 billion won fraud in South Korea. He was captured after killing the victims and stealing 720 million won intended for casino investments. Despite serving a 60-year sentence in the Philippines, Park allegedly continued to supply large quantities of drugs to South Korea via Telegram.

Operating under the alias 'Worldwide' from prison, Park managed a drug distribution network. The drugs he supplied were funneled into 'Vatican Kingdom,' the largest supplier in South Korea. Hwang Hana, currently on trial for drug use, is believed to have obtained drugs through this channel.

In a past broadcast interview, Park made bold claims, stating, "If I speak, South Korea will be turned upside down," and hinted at corruption within investigative agencies, saying, "Many prosecutors would lose their jobs."

Some political and legal circles are considering the possibility of reopening investigations into past major drug cases and the 'Burning Sun' club scandal following Park's extradition. According to the government's Transnational Crime Special Response Task Force (TF), they plan to uncover the organization Park was involved with and trace and recover the criminal proceeds.

By Min-kyung Lee, Ten Asia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr