Singer G-Dragon to voluntarily participate in police probe for illegal drug use

[Photograph by Yoo Dae-gil]

SEOUL -- Singer Kwon Ji-yong, known by his stage name G-Dragon, has announced that he would voluntarily show up to police to cooperate in an ongoing drug investigation. The 35-year-old recently got caught up in a drug scandal after police booked the singer on suspicion of illegal use of drugs.
 
South Korea's entertainment scene was engulfed in terror and shock in late October after law enforcers booked 48-year-old actor Lee Sun-kyun who starred in the globally popular 2019 film "Parasite", and G-Dragon after the police obtained evidence that the two stars used drugs including marijuana.
 
The Hallyu (Korean cultural wave) stars were investigated to be members of a private adult entertainment bar located in Seoul's southern district of Gangnam, famous for rapper Psy's 2012 global hit song "Gangnam Style."
 
Lee was summoned by the drug investigation team at the Incheon Police Agency in the western port city of Incheon on October 29. The police carried out a simple drug inspection using Lee's hair and urine samples and the results were negative. The police explained that the simple test is designed to see if a person has used drugs during the last five to ten days. The samples were delivered to the National Forensic Service for a thorough examination.
 
G-Dragon's legal attorney said on October 31 that "Mr. Kwon Ji-yong decided to sincerely cooperate with police by voluntarily showing up to Incheon Police Agency's drug investigation team for rapid and thorough investigation."
 
The attorney warned that "super-strong" legal action will be taken against those who spread false rumors and fake news. "We ask media to responsibly maintain their attitude to ensure that unfounded false information doesn't cause irreversible harm to K-pop artist Kwon Ji-yong, who represents Korea," G-Dragon's lawyer said.
 
G-Dragon had previously denied rumors that claimed the singer used drugs. Kwon said in a statement on October 27: "It is not true that I have used any kinds of drugs." G-Dragon claimed that he is not related to any media reports that claimed the singer violated laws regarding the illegal use of drugs.