SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — Police decided not to refer K-pop star G-Dragon to the prosecution over suspicions of illegal drug use as they plan to wrap up their investigation next week, officials said Thursday. The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency said they will officially clear G-Dragon of drug suspicions when they conclude the investigation [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — G-Dragon of K-pop group BIGBANG denied suspicions of illegal drug use Friday. “I’ve never used drugs,” the singer, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, said in a statement distributed through his lawyer. On Wednesday, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency booked him for allegedly using drugs, in violation of the [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — The ruling People Power Party (PPP) vowed Friday to come up with comprehensive measures to tackle the growing use of narcotics in the country amid renewed concerns about the problem as big-name celebrities are under drug investigation. “Our party and the government … will establish a comprehensive drug response [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Korea Bizwire) – The police have initiated an investigation following the discovery of card-shaped advertisements at Hongik University and Konkuk University that appear to be promoting the sale of drugs. These business card-sized ads are printed in English and claim to offer a product described as “liquid cannabis” with the assertion that it [...]
SEOUL, April 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Amid growing concerns over drug-related crimes, including the recent “drugged drink” incident in Seoul’s Gangnam District, the South Korean government has announced plans to conduct a drug survey among teenagers this year. The Ministry of Health and Welfare stated on Tuesday that it aims to conduct a comprehensive survey on [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — Foreign drug dealers are gaining a presence in South Korea, once referred to as a drug-free country. A research institute at the Korean National Police University reported that drug crimes involving foreigners jumped from 359 cases in 2012 to 2,335 last year. The nationalities of foreign drug dealers have [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Korean Association Against Drug Abuse signed an agreement Thursday to take joint efforts to bolster drug-related investigations as well as contribute to the prevention and treatment of drug abuse in response to the rising number of drug-related crimes. Both parties said they [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — Online drug trafficking spiked last year, data showed Wednesday, probably due to the continued spread of the internet and COVID-19. The data from the National Police Agency said 2,608 people were detained last year for trading drugs online. The corresponding figures stood at 1,120 in 2016, 1,100 in 2017, [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean drug and biopharmaceutical companies have recorded stellar performances this year despite the coronavirus pandemic, data showed Monday. Nine local pharmaceutical firms struck 14 technology export deals worth 10.15 trillion won (US$9.2 billion) this year, up 19 percent from a year earlier, according to the Korea Pharmaceutical and [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s customs agency said Friday it will take strong measures against drug smuggling after it confiscated more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine in 2019. South Korea seized 116.7 kg of methamphetamine, a common illegal substance, also known as Philopon, last year, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS). [...]