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Joo Ji-hoon busted for drug use

Whoa. Five people have been busted for drug trafficking, selling, and/or use — and three of them celebrities.

Most shocking is the involvement of popular actor Joo Ji-hoon, of movies Antique Bakery and The Naked Kitchen.

A representative from the Seoul police’s drug investigation department told reporters on April 26, “Joo Ji-hoon was investigated and admitted to drug use.” Joo reportedly bought the drugs — which include Ecstasy and Ketamine — from a fellow celebrity. Two non-celebrity individuals were booked for drug use along with Joo, but the three were not jailed. Police have filed for arrest warrants for the traffickers, movie actress Yoon Seol-hee and model Yeh Hak-young.

According to the police, Yoon is suspected of having received approximately 100 million won ($75,000) from Yeh and others between August 2007 through December 2008. She allegedly traveled from Japan fourteen times to purchase, smuggle, and sell Ecstasy and Ketamine. (Yeh supposedly accompanied her several times.) The drugs had been smuggled into the country by concealing them in underclothes worn by Yoon.

Joo Ji-hoon is thought to have used the drugs on two occasions along with the other reported individuals, at a Kangnam club and at home.

The 26-year-old Joo Ji-hoon shot to fame after acting the lead role of the prince in the incredibly popular teen drama Goong (Princess Hours) in 2006, which he followed with the dark thriller drama Devil in 2007. Most recently, he took the lead in the manga-adapted film Antique Bakery and the offbeat romance The Naked Kitchen.

YIIIIKES. I’m guessing he’ll be dropped from the Tokyo Tower remake now — if not prevented from acting altogether. Drug use — particularly in South Korea — is a big, big deal, and potentially career-killing stuff. Don’t do drugs, folks!

 
UPDATE


Joo Ji-hoon, Yoon Seol-hee, Yeh Hak-young

There isn’t much information available on Yoon Seol-hee, other than that she is an actress who was born in 1982.

Yeh Hak-young, on the other hand, was born in 1983 and got his start as a model in 2001, and appeared in numerous clothing, cell phone, and other advertisements, as well as music videos for groups like SG Wannabe and Gavy NJ. He made his first acting appearance in the MBC Nonstop sitcom series, then acted in the 2006 cable television version of Dasepo Naughty Girls, and Hyun Bin and Lee Yeon-hee’s Millionaire’s First Love.

 
UPDATE 2

Yoon Seol-hee has confessed more names of individuals who took drugs from her. Of the approximately 15 additional names, there are seven or eight more celebrities. Police will be following with investigation of those additional parties, “some of whom are as widely known as Joo.” Eep! This thing could get big(ger) and ugly(er).

Via Herald Biz, My Daily, Yonhap News

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this is a disaster! he could've thought about it before getting into this trouble. this will surely cost the fame he has put up to. i feel so bad about Ji Hoon. I've never thought he'd be that kind person. im not judging, though. he seem so nice and good but guess i was wrong, looks can be very deceiving right? i hoope it's just a false info about him. : )

i love dramabeans!!! : ))

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this is a disaster! he could've thought about it before getting into this trouble. this will surely cost the fame he has put up to. i feel so bad about Ji Hoon. I've never thought he'd be that kind person. im not judging, though. he seem so nice and good but guess i was wrong, looks can be very deceiving right? i hope it's just a bad dream about him. : )

i love dramabeans!!! : ))

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DUMBASS!

of all the things it could be, it had to be 'X' and K !!!
It couldn't be something that might have been semi-defensible, like pot, or painkillers or the like!NO !!!
the freaking idiots had to get into the hard shit.

I don't know if i've just been warped by the Hollywood scene, with all the blatant alchohol and drug abuse or what, but I'm not really all that suprised. There had to be SOMETHING, but 'X'!? Career suicide!!!!

Joo Ji Hoon may be able to bounce back EVENTUALLY! (I;m taliking way the freak down the road if ever) but it is going to take a crap-ton of public grovelling for for a HELLA long time before anything will go his way again. MORON!!!!!

As for the traffickers?..yeah they're just done. Using a couple of times is one thing, ACTIVELY AND EXTESIVELY smuggling and distributing (and probably using as well) is a whole different felony ballgame. Stick a fork in 'em!

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And 7/8 others A-list celebrities involved in this scandal too, when we will know about them, it's will be HUGE.

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to #48 havana

thank gods i'm not the only one who really thought he always looked stoned out of his mind. I swear I would see pictures and I'd see a Johnny Depp fashion wannabe who was higher than a kite on a windy day!

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"Police will be following with investigation of those additional parties, “some of whom are as widely known as Joo.” Eep! This thing could get big(ger) and ugly(er)."

And that's what's scary. I'm really afraid that the Antique Bakery will turn into the Antique Meth Lab. :(

"I’m guessing he’ll be dropped from the Tokyo Tower remake now — if not prevented from acting altogethe"

I hope Tokyo Tower doesn't get dropped altogether. It seems the casting was Hallyu-minded, but it would be a shame because the movie only touched upon the novel. In fact, I was thinking that this is the perfect project for Lee Min Ho. The age gap would be truly provocative to watch, and some of the things I saw in LMH during his performance as Jung Pyo suggested he could really play this part.

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That is such a shame! How sad for him. I hope it is not as dire as it appears on the surface.
And selfishly, I was looking forward to the Tokyo Tower remake.

I don't really care he was doing drugs, personally. Most of my friends have done Ecstasy before.
And I think it is a natural human interest to alter one's consciousness or people all over the world, throughout time, wouldn't be trying to do it.

But when he could get in so much trouble kind of foolish...

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WOah....this is crazy!!

I'm sure he seriously regrets this since it effectively means the end of his career. this is unbelievable especially considering that even MORE celebrities are involved.

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hopefully JJH wasn't involved in the smuggling of drugs. I'm not a fan of JJH's acting, but i am disappointed in this turn of events. He's only 26 and his career seemed to have been picking up again after the goong madness died down. And it's strange to think of Shin from Goong doing drugs.

horrible thought of mine but shouldn't Yoon Seol-hee be careful about giving out all those names. the entertainment business can be pretty powerful.

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Holy!! Now I really want to know the names of the 7 ~ 8 celebrities...

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"but shouldn’t Yoon Seol-hee be careful about giving out all those names."

She's going to prison for a long, long time. This is her only means of negotiating sentence. And it needs to be said -- taking selca photos behind a cell just doesn't have the same charm.

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#62 belleza
"She’s going to prison for a long, long time."

In some countries it won't be prison but a date with the Grim Reaper.

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I'm shocked. Not that Joo Ji Hoon does drugs, which I kinda figured, but that people consider it a career ender (and that so many commenters have condemned him for doing drugs--I barely touch alcohol & I feel bad for the guy). Maybe I've just grown up watching Kate Moss & Robert Downey Jr., but to blacklist someone because he did club drugs (E isn't exactly heroin) seems like a spectacular waste of talent. Here's hoping he bounces back.

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@Renee,

"but that people consider it a career ender "

That's how it is in Korea, Illegal drugs = career killer. That's why people are waiting on "the list." Their careers will be destroyed too.

@thundie,

"In some countries it won’t be prison but a date with the Grim Reaper."

In Singapore, before he could ask "would oral pleasure be just as good?", he'd been executed onsite. BANG!! BANG!! No Goong 2 for you!!

Kidding aside, I would feel terrible if I were a Joo Ji Hoo fan. This is sad news.

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To put a different spin on things, I'm glad the user got caught. I'm probably the only person who wasn't looking forward to watching Kim Ji Soo and Joo Ji Hoon partnering together in Tokyo Tower. Kim Ji Soo is one of my favorite actresses and dammit, I want her to work with the best and not with who's popular.

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@ Renee, obviously you've never lived in an Asian country. Laws on drug use as well as drug distribution is very strict over there. Society also looks down on drug-use and drug-addicts are treated like vermin, more or less.

Joo Ji Hoon's career is over.

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"Police will be following with investigation of those additional parties, “some of whom are as widely known as Joo.” "

aishh...and why i'm wthinking right now about jae wook and others from antique

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"To put a different spin on things, I’m glad the user got caught."

That's one ugly spin, considering he just wrecked his life. No offense. I really feel sad for him.

"aishh…and why i’m wthinking right now about jae wook and others from antique"

My thoughts too.

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not surprising.. heee...

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"It was revealed that Joo Ji Hoon began to associate himself with the two around March 2008 and has been charged by the police for being involved in the 2nd stage that sold drugs." from allkpop

^now tell me, I should feel sorry for him. People who sell drugs need to be shot period! They are not only ruining their future but also other peole's lives by being enablers. Dont be blinded by his celebrity status people. He needs to be punished severely for this.

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It would be an understatement at the very least, to say I was shocked. What was he thinking?! Drug use is bad as it is (no I don't buy that crap about trying out new things) but for someone at his stage in life - did he ever consider the repercussions if he got caught? Very disappointing. I guess this explains the constant "hey I'm high" look he has goin' on. I just hope he wasn't selling drugs so they don't put him in jail. Though they might since he's so popular.

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*gasp* - @68 - true... sigh..

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"around March 2008 "

Aw crap. Antique Bakery finished shooting in March. :(

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What I am afraid now that actors or actresses being accused could killed themselves. I am not forgiving JOO ji Hoon for being drug addict, I just simply try to understand why he is doing it..pressure, hours working....

If he is rich he can go oversea and doing something else...but please dont make suicide..it is not worth it !

and people could make a mistake once...

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"What I am afraid now that actors or actresses being accused could killed themselves."

Unfortunately, that's crossed my mind too. :(

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I would be ashamed sporting this siggy now: "If it aint Joo Ji Hoon it aint worth it"

it should be: If it Aint Joo Ji Hoon it IS worth it!

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@71, He was charged for using, not selling or trafficking. (At least, that's how things stand now.) I believe that was a mistranslation of the fact that Joo took drugs twice.

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OMG! What shock to hear JJH is involved in drugs. I like him and YEH in Goong. If he is admitted and he is merely a user, the punishment will be different from the pusher. He might be sent to rehabilitation center, he can become a clan from drug person again. He is still young and should not be too harsh to destroy an upcoming young talented actor. Hopefully no more suicide news from Korea.

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Such a shame. Liked him in Goong. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.

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"He was charged for using, not selling or trafficking. (At least, that’s how things stand now.)"

In fact, I'm not even thinking about that right now.. If he's convicted of distribution, his *life* will be destroyed. If you're a celebrity, you'd have to be out of your frigging mind to be involved with that.

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I don't particularly care if he does drugs or not. I know a ton of people who do drugs, and I don't think doing them makes you a bad person. It's just a pretty stupid thing to do.

What DOES make me mad about this news is that he's pretty much ruined his career. This is Korea, not Hollywood, for eff's sake, and he knows that. He grew so much as an actor in "The Devil", and now he's just thrown all of that hard work out the window. It shows a lack of respect for his own artistic growth, and that pisses me off. Was doing drugs really worth risking your career over, Joo Ji Hoon? Really?

What a complete and utter waste.

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"People who sell drugs need to be shot period!"

Really? We're now advocating death?
I'm guessing half you people wouldn't bat an eyelash if he was drinking 5 bottles of soju a night.
I will never understand what makes people perfectly fine with certain types of drugs and so insanely against others.... Alcohol and tobacco are cool cause they are legal, but smoke something else and you deserve to be behind bars?
Rehab is a good option.
Lets all stop short of calling for people heads on platters.

Netizens are scary beast.

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I want to feel bad for him, a part of me do, but he bought this upon himself. Any sympathy I have for him is little.

Let's just hope he spent his money wisely, he'll be needing it.

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I just read the new articles and it seems Yoon Seol-hee and model Yeh Hak-young have been arrested and Joo Ji Hoon is till detained maybe for more intensive questioning. I hope he is not stoned when being questioned, cause he might reveal things that will further get him in trouble.

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@Jin-Ah,

Attitudes toward recreational drug use is significantly different in Asia. You go to jail (though it also leads to rehab centers) for smoking weed in South Korea. Now, to be actually charged with E and Special K??? Thinking it over, I would be really surprised of Joo Ji Hoon avoids jail time over this.

And the other thing is, to get those drugs in South Korea, it had to come outside of country. Meaning, there's a distribution channel the government is looking for. And if that distribution channel is mainlining celebrities, you now have a huge potential firestorm.

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Yep..and if he's in my country he'll be needing and saying a lot of prayers..
Man..JiHun..i adore you so much in 'Mawang' and 'Antique Bakery'..*sad mode*
Well kiddos..listen again..DRUGS SUX...!!

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@ Jin-Ah:
you did bring up some legitimate points:

'...I will never understand what makes people perfectly fine with certain types of drugs and so insanely against others…. Alcohol and tobacco are cool cause they are legal, but smoke something else and you deserve to be behind bars?...'

For one, yes the definition of what is considered a 'drug' can be as broad as u can imagine, simply it can be put as 'any substance that can alter your being', but whether it's legal or not is usu determined by its therapeutic effects 'write off' its abuse potential and how severe the harm of its effects is.

So for drugs such as K or X, they r extremely 'harmful' (esp to your brain), with high abuse potential and not much 'medicinal' use. Therefore it's usually considered in another light compared to nicotine/alcohol.

I also am dumbfounded with how socially acceptable alcohol use is in Korea (esp considering it can lead to drunk driving). I do support a very strict legislature towards these illicit drugs though. Basically these are doing nobody any good. the fact that a lot of ppl r doing it just spread the ignorance of how severe abusing these drugs can potentially be, numbing our guard against drug use, 'curiosity' really can't explain it off. I do believe some ppl r predisposed (genetically) to addictions, they do need help, but if what they did is against the law, they should be punished as such.

I do feel for fans of these artists, but frankly I have no tolerance for their behavior. Fame has a price, ppl do look at them in more a magnifying glass and whether they like it or not, they do have a social impact on youngsters.

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YIKES! I really dislike gambling and drugs! These 2 are big no no for everyone, not even to say celeb! If this is America perhaps with a few rehabs and awareness campaigns to go, stars could probably get back their feet in the entertainment circle. In Asia countries, I think it's pretty much the end~dead end.

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@mookie,

"(esp considering it can lead to drunk driving)"

Actually, the driving in Asia is so bad that the word "sober" doesn't seem like the right word. ;)

I just feel sad for him because this is going to be a living hell for him now.

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Whhaaaaaaa-t??? That sucks cuz I really like Joo Ji Hoon

And I bet that girl is blabbing because she doesn't want to go down by herself.

But maaan...Joo Ji Hoon???

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RANT:
I am really sick and tired of the way Americans talk about drug use like it is no big deal (e.g. "I know people who do drugs"). Typical privileged attitude. While kids in America do drugs, people are dying harvesting and trafficking the drugs in Mexico, Afghanistan, Thailand, etc. Millions of people around the world are caught in violent wars and under the rule of drug kings and gangs so the few rich elite pri*ks in the West can get high.

When I hear of people in America sort of shrugging off drug use, I want hit them on their heads, drive them to Mexico or Columbia or Afghanistan and leave them there. Get your drugs at the source, you privileged ignorant mo-fos. Harvest the damn stuff yourself.

Why do people do stuff like this? If you are rich, good looking and have the kind of fame that a tiniest minority can ever get, why, why, why would you do drugs? If you live in a slum in brutal poverty, fine, I get the need to escape, but if you are living better than 90% of the planet and you still need to tinker with your mind to feel whatever, STFU and go volunteer to make this world a better place.

I hope they throw the book at all the stars caught in this scandal, including Ji Joon. We should not tolerate drug use. Either we make the damn thing legal and allow the people in charge of harvesting and trafficking to make legitimate money, OR STOP SUPPORTING A CULTURE OF CRIME THAT DEALS IN BLOOD MONEY. But no, we can't make it legal b/c the cost of taking care of crack, cocaine, and heroin addicted people in the first world will cripple the economy so let's let the third world deal with the sludge of our mess.

UUUURRRRGGGGHHHH

/End RANT

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i understand the standards are totally different in Asia but i'm extremely disappointed in some of the comments i've read on this page. doing drugs is not worse than regularly getting wasted on soju and passing out on the street (which i see ALL THE TIME). it is not worse than smoking a pack a day just because cigarettes are legal. doing drugs twice or even a few times does not make you an addict. doing drugs does not make you a bad person. it does not mean you should die. it also does not mean that you should be stoned by the public and judged by a whole bunch of self-righteous, hypocritical netizens. but that is the nature of Korea and in that case, i feel like JJH did not use his best judgment. but i'm hoping the best for him in a country that is soooooo conservative. it's sad because most koreans i know are curious about drugs, but as soon as someone gets caught doing it everybody is ready to point the finger and call them something equivalent to a leper. it sucks because most people who judge it don't know a thing about it, other than the biased fear-mongering media "information" about it.

anyway, crossing my fingers for him. i like him as an actor and i'll still like him as an actor. whatever his lifestyle choices are is his business. it's just too bad he's gonna get skinned alive for it.

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@belleza,

arghhhh, on a 'lighter' note, I have zero tolerance for 'sober' wkend drivers...

*sigh*, I mean I do feel bad for him as a young dude making one serious mistake that'll totally cost his career. But...c'est la vie. Showbiz is harsh, second chances r no guarantees, even if he is insanely talented (which imho....nope)

I hope he'll get a good lesson out of this though and be a stronger human being.

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I think everyone is missing the main point that I was making, or trying to make. Which was " Lets not have irresponsible statements like saying someone deserves to die." It very easy to sit behind a computer and call for the end of a career or in this case a life. Unfortunately its not easy for the people who are living with the repercussions of their own actions. Its not easy for the people who have to enforce and carryout the decisions that will be made regarding the matter. This is a complicated issue, regardless of the society you live in. That is what I was trying to point out with my "drug comparison". Which was why I ended it with that statement that Netizens are scary beasts...
I stand by that statement.

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Alright, I'll bite:

"If you are rich, good looking and have the kind of fame that a tiniest minority can ever get, why, why, why would you do drugs? "

Being rich is supposed to motivate one to be straight edge??? Rich people are the moral exemplars of society?

"When I hear of people in America sort of shrugging off drug use, I want hit them on their heads, drive them to Mexico or Columbia or Afghanistan and leave them there."

Well now, you're talking about cocaine and heroin. Have you seen the actual stats on cocaine and heroin use in the States and other countries?

"but if you are living better than 90% of the planet and you still need to tinker with your mind to feel whatever, STFU and go volunteer to make this world a better place."

What does recreational activities have to do with volunteering or altruistic behaviour?

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@ Nom Kitteh, sweetie, u r actually ranting some stuff I want to rant.

@ momo

sorry babe, but... I was seriously shaking my head reading what you just wrote.

1. u r severely disppointed w/ netizens ranting yet tolerant about doing drugs or drug trafficking?! At most we're being judgmental/hypocritical, we didnt commit any prosecutable crime(s), right?!

2. doing drugs once/twice (that is just what's caught or admitted) doesnt make u an addict. tsktsktsk

Drug use of K or X can be 'recreational' for lucky some, but can also lead to an uncontrollable devastating addiction even in the case of 'trying it out once out of curiosity'. Say no to drugs, preachy but true.... esp when u have no idea what u r getting into/talking about. You will be extremely shocked how many ppl got addicted to pain killers with just a few doses. It's not even weakness on their own part...it's just that these drugs are controlled substances and thus extremely dangerous esp if considered for 'recreational use/lifestyle choices' for many many reasons.

3. is being a leper anything 'bad'?! it's an infectious disease, u caught the bug, u may end up being a leper.... y is this worst than doing drugs, dealing drugs?!

4. lifestyle choices.... eh..

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@momo,

"it’s sad because most koreans i know are curious about drugs, but as soon as someone gets caught doing it everybody is ready to point the finger and call them something equivalent to a leper"

I feel the same way . . . but then again, I'm an American and I have fairly liberal (or I guess "privileged") attitudes toward recreational use. And, in this situation, I'm not going to judge or impose my value system on another culture. Sometimes I do (say, women's rights), but not in this case, because I know that this issue varies greatly from country to country.

However. Fact remains that Joo Ji Hoon, a South Korean and a popular actor, was caught doing recreational drugs. He'll probably face some prison. He'll probably be blacklisted as an actor, thus ending his career. He is probably viewed as a disgrace by the majority of Koreans and a disappointment from even his most ardent Korean fans. His international fanbase may be more sympathetic, but he's getting eviscerated right now. Finally, other names will come out and they will also face the same consequences.

March 2008, the estimated time of the deals, was around the time Antique Bakery finished shooting.

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hmm.

@belleza and javabeans: i agree with you. the law in Malaysia and Singapore are so VERY strict that if you are charged with drug trafficking or a certain amount of drug possession, it's to the gallows straight away. that's why we have to be so careful when traveling out and back.

drugs are just not the best way to get your life moving. and i'm sad that joo ji hoon and those soon to be named celebrities chose this way.

and yeah, i think Asian driving is just bad, sober or not.

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i always joke about joo ji hoon look like he doing drug ... and it's true ... >,< ...
why would people do drug ? im studying about drug in school i don't think it's anything good about drug ?maybe bcause of stress ????

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I'm nervous about the other celebrities yet to be named. Please don't be anyone I care about.

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