Drug Crimes Increase by an Average of 7.5% Annually Over the Past 4 Years
Drug Offenses by Celebrities Like Don Spike and Nam Taehyun on the Rise
Youth Easily Access Drugs... Diverse Non-Face-to-Face Distribution Channels Expand
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Amid the recent surge in drug-related crimes, calls for countermeasures are growing. Analysis suggests that due to diversified distribution networks, anyone?from influential celebrities with strong ripple effects to teenagers?can easily obtain drugs if they set their minds to it.
According to the 'Police Crime' statistics provided by the National Police Agency on the 2nd, the number of drug-related crimes recorded was △6,513 cases in 2018 △9,186 cases in 2019 △8,088 cases in 2021, showing an average annual increase of 7.5% over the past four years. According to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the number of drug offenders was △11,916 in 2015 △14,123 in 2017 △16,044 in 2019 △16,153 in 2021.
Drug crimes involving celebrities and other public figures are also occurring one after another. On the 26th, composer and singer Don Spike (45, Kim Min-su) was arrested on charges of using and possessing methamphetamine at a hotel in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. At the time of arrest, 30 grams of methamphetamine?enough for about 1,000 doses?were found in the hotel room. According to media reports, Kim was confirmed to have three prior drug-related convictions before this arrest for drug use.
Famous composer and businessman Don Spike (real name Kim Min-su), who is accused of drug use, appeared at the Seoul Northern District Court in Dobong-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 28th to undergo a pre-arrest detention hearing. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Singer Nam Tae-hyun (28) and influencer Seo Min-jae (29) are also under police investigation for drug use. Earlier, on the 20th of last month, Seo posted a photo on her social media showing her head touching Nam Tae-hyun’s, along with posts implying drug use such as 'Nam Tae-hyun methamphetamine included,' and 'There is a used syringe in my room or company cabinet. And he hit me then,' sparking controversy. The police, investigating following a citizen group's report, reportedly collected urine and hair samples from them and sent them to the National Forensic Service for testing.
Not only are drug crimes by celebrities who influence society a concern, but the number of young drug offenders in their teens and twenties is also sharply increasing, raising alarms. According to the 'Drug Offender Age Status' data submitted by the office of National Assembly member Choi Young-hee of the People Power Party through the Ministry of Justice on the 16th, the number of teenage drug offenders increased 3.8 times from 119 in 2017 to 450 last year, while those in their twenties rose 2.4 times from 2,112 to 5,077 during the same period. Notably, the increase among teenagers was the highest among all age groups, indicating greater accessibility to drugs.
The increase in drug offenders is rapidly rising not only among young adults but also among teenagers.
It is analyzed that the COVID-19 pandemic led to diversified distribution channels such as the internet, increasing drug transactions. Due to the variety of non-face-to-face purchasing methods, drugs can be easily obtained if one desires, increasing accessibility among young people. According to data on 'Internet drug offender arrests over the past five years' submitted by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Sang-hoon from the National Police Agency on the 15th, internet-related offenders accounted for 12.4% of drug offenders in 2017, but this rose to 24% last year.
Currently, the Korea Communications Standards Commission is responding to block drug crimes online by receiving complaints and conducting self-monitoring. Accordingly, posts on domestic servers are immediately deleted, while posts on overseas servers such as Twitter are blocked from domestic IP addresses (Internet Protocol addresses) and deleted through cooperation with related overseas agencies.
Meanwhile, on the 19th, National Police Agency Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun stated, "During the 40-day intensive crackdown period on drug offenders in the second half of the year, a total of 1,446 people were caught, and 223 were arrested." Regarding criticism that there is a shortage of special drug crackdown personnel and that efforts are focused only on performance, he said, "I mentioned drug investigations as the second promise to the public, and I know that field investigators are doing their best. Naturally, promotions, rank advancements, and awards are being given, and although there may be unavoidable issues, we will communicate to see if there are parts that can be resolved and work to solve them."
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