Investigation to Cover Crimes Committed During Overseas Escape
The police are planning to request an arrest warrant for Hwang Hana (37), the granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products, who was apprehended after fleeing overseas while facing drug charges.
The Gwacheon Police Station in Gyeonggi Province announced on December 25 that it plans to request an arrest warrant for Hwang, who was arrested on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Act. Although the schedule for the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review) has not yet been determined, it is expected to take place as early as December 26.
Hwang is currently being held in the police detention center. She is expected to be seen when she is transferred to the court for the warrant review.
Previously, in July 2023, Hwang was accused of administering methamphetamine to two acquaintances using a syringe in Gangnam, Seoul. In December 2023, while under police investigation for drug charges, she fled to Thailand. As the investigation could not proceed due to her escape overseas, the police requested a blue notice (for locating a person) from Interpol in May last year and invalidated her passport. Subsequently, Hwang reportedly entered Cambodia illegally and had been staying there.
The police plan to expand the investigation to include the distribution channels and circumstances under which Hwang obtained the drugs. In addition, they intend to investigate whether she committed any illegal acts while staying abroad.
Hwang’s whereabouts became widely known to the public in October, following reports that she was living a luxurious lifestyle in Cambodia. Recently, her lawyer informed the police of her intention to voluntarily appear, and the police traveled to Cambodia, took her into custody, and executed the arrest warrant on board a national carrier at Phnom Penh International Airport.
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