Actor Yoo Ah-in is facing legal scrutiny as prosecutors filed a warrant for his arrest on May 22nd over allegations of drug abuse.
Yoo, whose real name is Uhm Hong-sik, and an artist acquaintance, identified only as A, are accused of violating the Act on the Control of Narcotics.
Authorities from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency had previously requested a warrant for Yoo’s arrest on May 19th over concerns about potential destruction of evidence and the risk of flight. A court hearing for the suspects, including Yoo Ah-in, will be held this week to determine whether they should be detained pending further investigation.
The multi-awarded actor is accused of administering five different types of drugs, but denies using four of them, including cocaine, ketamine, zolpidem, and propofol. He has only admitted to testing positive for marijuana.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety had previously requested police investigation into Yoo Ah-in, suspecting habitual use of propofol. It was revealed that Yoo had allegedly administered over 4400 milliliters of propofol in 73 separate instances throughout 2021.
The police investigation into Yoo also led to suspicion that the actor had used drugs other than propofol. Besides testing positive for marijuana, Yoo is suspected of using cocaine, ketamine, and zolpidem.
The arrest warrant application also includes the aforementioned accomplice A, who is suspected of aiding and abetting Yoo’s drug use. After turning A and three others into suspects, the police continued the investigation.
Yoo Ah-in had appeared at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Team on May 16th for a second round of questioning as a suspect. He was initially scheduled for questioning on May 11th, but turned back due to media presence following a leak of the investigation schedule.
Yoo Ah-in is well-known for his roles in various successful dramas, including “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” (2010), “Secret Affair” (2014), and “Six Flying Dragons” (2015-2016). His performance in dramas and film has earned him several prestigious awards and a solid fan base in Korea and abroad.
Source: TVDaily