"The Actor from 'Gisaengchung'..." Entertainment Industry Sighs Amid Repeated Drug Scandals [Focus]

'Drug Allegations' Lee Seon-gyun & G-Dragon Impact
Top Stars' Ripple Effect↑...Tension in Popular Culture Industry
Blockbuster Production Budget at Risk, Industry Sighs

"The actor from 'Parasite' did drugs."

Covering the drug allegations against actor Lee Sun-kyun (48), the American media outlet The Hollywood Reporter reported this. He was so-called successful. After majoring in acting at university, he steadily built his filmography starting with theater and broadcasting, then moving into film. Gaining popularity with the catchphrase "One Bongole," he was noticed in melodramas and expanded his territory to Chungmuro, standing out in various genres. He even received a love call from director Bong Joon-ho. The film he starred in, 'Parasite,' won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and lifted the Oscar at the American Academy Awards. His name became known on the global stage, and naturally, his value skyrocketed. His image was also good. He married an actress early on and had two sons. Through the drama 'My Mister' (2018), he left behind memorable lines. He was an actor of just the right age with a good image, who read scripts excellently and understood his roles cleverly. Scripts for movies and dramas poured in, and advertisements lined up.

Lee Sun-kyun (left) G-Dragon [Photo by CJ ENM, Yonhap News]

There were no wings to his fall. According to the legal and police authorities, the Drug Crime Investigation Division of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency booked Lee Sun-kyun on the 24th on charges of marijuana and psychotropic substances under the Narcotics Control Act. The police are expected to conduct a drug test on him soon.

The two words "Gangnam entertainment establishment" woman and "drugs" were attached before Lee Sun-kyun's name. His agency appealed that he was "threatened," but the fact that he is suspected of repeatedly using drugs at the home of a woman working in an entertainment establishment is shocking. Since he had built a wholesome image by mainly playing righteous police officers and lawyers in his works, the impact was even greater.

The police reportedly received intelligence about a so-called "membership-only room salon" in Gangnam, Seoul, and identified circumstances during the investigation. On the 24th, New Daily reported that the entertainment establishment located in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where Lee Sun-kyun is known to have used drugs, operates as a membership-based "1% room salon." It is an establishment targeting high-income earners, with famous athletes and celebrities as main customers, and the cost of a drinking table for 3 to 4 people is said to be around 8 to 10 million won.

Lee Sun-kyun's disclosed appearance fee is 200 million won per episode. After filming the SBS drama 'Legal High,' he received 3.2 billion won (for 16 episodes). It is estimated that he received much more from online video streaming services (OTT). Even with just two or three works, it is possible to acquire real estate in prime locations in Seoul. The entertainment industry is now looking more strictly at risks related to private life. The atmosphere is different from the past when a brief period of self-restraint was possible. The industry expects that if Lee Sun-kyun's drug use allegations are proven true, it will lead not only to self-restraint and suspension of activities but also to permanent expulsion.

Measures to exclude entertainers punished for drug offenses from all broadcasting programs are also being considered. On the afternoon of the 26th, at the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee audit, Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman Lee Dong-kwan responded to a question from Kim Young-sik of the People Power Party, saying, "Currently, KBS, MBC, and others handle this under their own internal regulations, but we will review and implement a generalizable measure."

Lee Seon-gyun [Photo by Lotte Entertainment]

The public's feelings toward Lee Sun-kyun's "drug scandal" are complicated. Among the allegations is the fact that he visited the home of a woman in her 20s working as a so-called "saekki madam" (a term for a female manager in entertainment establishments). Not only the drugs but also the fact that a married man visited the home of a woman working in an entertainment establishment has shocked many.

This year, following actor Yoo Ah-in (real name Eom Hong-sik) and singer Nam Tae-hyun, Lee Sun-kyun has disappointed the public with a "drug scandal." Although the investigation is still ongoing, the industry is watching closely to see if this case will expand to the entire entertainment world. Considering the content industry structure that relies on top stars, if a starring actor is embroiled in an unsavory allegation, many people could easily end up out of work.

The Drug Crime Investigation Division of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency announced that on the 25th, singer G-Dragon (35, real name Kwon Ji-yong) was booked without detention on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act and is under investigation. The police reportedly obtained intelligence that other famous entertainers besides Lee Sun-kyun had used drugs and have been conducting internal investigations. On the morning of the 27th, Kwon issued a statement through his lawyer denying the allegations, saying, "I did not use drugs." The police stated that this is a separate matter from Lee Sun-kyun's case, but the public is clicking their tongues at the consecutive drug allegations involving two famous stars.

The police said there are no additional entertainers involved, but concerns are spreading that there may be more famous people who have used drugs through acquaintances, centered around Gangnam establishments. A film industry insider said, "I can no longer say I know the actors well," adding, "We earnestly hope that the main actors who appeared in the works we produced did not engage in illegal activities in private settings." He added, "If proven true, the impact on the industry will be considerable."

Lee Sun-kyun [Photo by Yonhap News]

Another insider said, "Self-management is an essential area required of actors. They should not engage in actions that could harm others when they commit certain acts. This is also included in the fees they are paid." He continued, "There are detailed clauses in appearance contracts, but it is realistically difficult to hold them legally responsible. For lead actors, editing is also not easy, so if a social scandal occurs, the production team that invested a long time and money for the work inevitably suffers."

He did not forget to make a plea to be included in the article. The insider said, "If there is anyone, including actors or celebrities, who feels uneasy about the words 'drugs' and 'entertainment establishment' when looking at Lee Sun-kyun's drug scandal, I want to earnestly say this: It is time to firmly distance yourself from entertainment and drugs. It is not too late. Please think of the faces of your family who support you and the people who will be harmed by your actions, and stop. Please make sure this is written in the article."