Actor Yoo Ah-in (real name Uhm Hong-sik, 37) is facing detention on suspicion of drug use, as an arrest warrant has been filed for him, more than 100 days after he was frisked by police shortly after arriving from the United States on February 5.

Meanwhile, singer Nam Tae-hyun, 29, and entertainment program “Heartsignal” star Lee Min-jae, 30, who were also suspected of taking methamphetamine, escaped detention for now.

Luxury brand Gucci was criticized for staging a noisy “embarrassing after party” late into the night after its Gyeongbokgung Palace fashion show.

Yoo Ah-in ‘scuffles’ with police over summons, faces detention

Actor Yoo Ah-in leaves a government office after completing a second investigation as a suspect in violation of the Narcotics Control Act at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Drug Crime Investigation Team on Sunday morning.(Photo: Yonhap)
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Department’s Drug Crime Investigation Team applied for a preliminary arrest warrant against Yoo at around 5:50 p.m. on the 19th to the prosecutor’s office on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Act (Hyangjeong). The reasons for the application include the destruction of evidence and fears of escape. Whether or not Yoo will be detained will be decided after a pretrial interrogation (warrant substantive examination) early next week once the prosecution requests the warrant from the court.

The celebrity’s drug scandal has been making waves since it first broke, with the number of drugs Yoo is suspected to have consumed increasing over the course of the investigation, reaching five: hemp, propofol, cocaine, ketamine, and zolpidem. However, Yoo only partially admitted to inhaling hemp, but claimed that propofol and ketamine were for therapeutic purposes. He strongly denied the suspicion of taking cocaine.

During the two police summonses, Yoo and the police fought back and forth. On March 27 and March 16, Yoo appeared before the police as a suspect and was questioned. On both occasions, the media was informed of the scheduled appearance first and Yoo’s camp protested, calling it a “de facto open investigation” and demanding a postponement. In response, the police pressured Yoo, threatening him with arrest if he failed to appear. In the end, Yoo was subjected to 21 hours of intense overnight interrogation from 9:05 a.m. to 6:20 a.m. the next day during the re-summoned investigation.

Meanwhile, Choi Mo-soo, a writer from an American university, one of four acquaintances who were named as accomplices who took drugs with Yoo, also appeared before police at around 11 a.m. on the 16th and underwent a suspect identification investigation for about 20 hours. Police had previously charged all four acquaintances, including Choi, as suspects.

Nam Tae-hyun and Seo Min-jae released from custody, police investigation continues

Nam Tae-hyun and entertainment program performer Seo Min-jae, who are under investigation for allegedly taking crystal methamphetamine, have escaped detention.

On the morning of the 18th, the Seoul Western District Court rejected the police’s application for an arrest warrant against Nam and Seo for alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act, stating that “their residences are stable and there are no concerns about destruction of evidence or flight,” and that “detention at this stage appears to be an undue restriction on their defense rights.”

Nam and Seo appeared at the Seoul Western District Court on the same day to have their warrants reviewed. When asked if they admitted to the charges, Nam said only, “I’m sorry,” while Seo shook his head and said, “Yes, I admit it.”

Their alleged methamphetamine use surfaced last year. In August of last year, Seo posted on her social media account, “Nam Tae-hyun did meth. There is a syringe in my room or in the cabinet at work,” Seo posted on social media in August last year, prompting people to call the police메이저놀이터. The police were recently notified by the National Institute of Scientific Investigation (NISI) that their hair had tested positive for methamphetamine.

With the dismissal of the warrant, the two will remain in custody and continue to be investigated by the police.

After a tumultuous aftermath, a one-line apology to residents’ protests

Italian luxury brand GUCCI’s 2024 Cruise fashion show held at Gyeongjeongjeon Hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on the afternoon of the 16th (Photo by News1)
Italian luxury brand Gucci held a late-night fashion show in the heart of Seoul’s city center. In addition to the inconvenience caused to residents, the company’s subsequent “one-line” apology drew criticism.

Gucci held its “2024 Cruise Fashion Show” at the Gyeongjeongjeon Hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul from 7-8:30 p.m. on April 16. The problem is what happened afterward. According to police, the after-party at a neighboring building was so loud that 112 calls were made to the police. Between 9:30 p.m. and midnight, they received 52 reports alone.

Police said they issued two citations to the event’s organizers under the Misdemeanor Disturbance Act after trying to get them to tone down the noise. They also used riot police and nine patrol officers to move cars parked illegally near the event.

In response to the controversy, Gucci issued a brief apology through its PR agency on Sunday, saying, “We deeply apologize for any inconvenience caused to residents, including noise, by the party that took place after the fashion show.”