University Student and Specialist from 'Daehakga Drug Club' Receive Suspended Sentence in First Trial

"No Criminal Record and Showing Remorse"

Members of the university drug club 'Kkanbu' and a medical specialist who purchased drugs from them were given suspended sentences in the first trial.

On the 18th, the Criminal Division 14 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Judge Jang Seong-hoon) announced that it sentenced club members Bae Mo and Jeong Mo (22), who were charged with violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances), to 2 years and 6 months in prison with a 3-year suspension. Additionally, Lee Mo, a medical specialist at a top general hospital in Seoul who was not a member of Kkanbu but was charged with purchasing, storing, and using drugs from them, was sentenced to 1 year in prison with a 2-year suspension.

The court stated, "Drug-related crimes are difficult to detect and highly addictive, causing significant social harm. The defendant, a doctor, was well aware of the dangers of narcotics yet traded and used MDMA (Ecstasy), which reflects poorly on the nature of the crime." However, since this is a first offense with no prior criminal record, and the defendant admitted to the crime and pledged not to reoffend," the court explained the reasons for sentencing.

Bae and Jeong are accused of repeatedly purchasing and using electronic cigarettes equipped with liquid cannabis cartridges while active in the university drug club. Lee is accused of attending work at a hospital after using drugs in October last year, wandering around clubs in Gangnam, Seoul, and performing surgeries on seven patients while under the influence of drugs. Previously, the prosecution demanded a 3-year prison sentence and a fine of 300,000 won for Lee on the 2nd.