Recently, entertainer's drugs problems have come out into the open and attracted a lot of attention. Meanwhile, the quantity of drugs caught in customs increased sixfold from 69.1 kilograms in 2017 to 425.8 kilograms last year. In addition, the number of drug offenders is constantly increasing according to the Korea Customs Service.

YG, one of the three major talent agencies in the country, is on the decline due to drugs. It now has the stigma of being known as a drugstore. In 2011, BigBang's G-Dragon was given a suspended sentence for smoking marijuana. And in 2017, BigBang's T.O.P., who was in the military, was sentenced to probation for smoking marijuana. Producer KUSH of THE BLACK LABEL under YG was also sentenced a prison for purchasing and administering cocaine in 2017.

In addition, suspicions of drug use swirl around B.I, the leader of iKON, one of the groups managed by YG. Dispatches made a disclosure of messages that included "I would like to buy LSD" and "I want to do drugs for my whole life," which is assumed to have been exchanged with an acquaintance. A YG official explained, "We are carrying out random drug tests for our singers every two months," but it only accelerated the controversy.

This led to a boycott campaign for YG artists at the festival in universities such as Hanyang, Myongji. Daegu University also cast iKON at the festival but it caused outrage among students because it was not clear how the offer was made or how much of a fee was to be paid for the performance. In this context, the student council held the festival without any other explanation and incurred students anger again and did not offer any other explanation until now.

Drugs are not simply a problem with entertainers. Hwang Ha-na, the granddaughter of Namyang Dairy Products founder was arrested on drug charges. She was sentenced to probation. And Chung (28), a third-generation Hyundai Group family member is suspected of purchasing and using hash oil, was arrested by police at Incheon International Airport. He is also suspected of smoking marijuana with a Choi (31), a member of the family who owns the SK Group, who was placed under arrest and handed over to trial.

Drug problems of entertainers and chaebol family members can lead to copycat crimes. The most serious problem is easy to get psychotropic drugs that can cause hallucination or lead to poisoning. It is difficult to control and prevent buying drugs in foreign countries through the Internet.

Drug users are not shown mercy, even if they are first time offenders. In the case of marijuana, users can be sentenced to a maximum of five years, be fined up to 50 million won. However, if it is a first-time offender or the user expresses sincere regret, there is a possibility of a reduced sentence. Still it is a matter to think about carefully. Is it fair that entertainers and chaebol family members who commit drug crimes again receive just a slap on the wrist?

L.L.F reporter Seung-hee Na