fyi, #50 was me, not "ohrs" - sorry! That was weird.

*whimpers* no more drama from Joo Ji Hoon TT_TT I'm so disappointed with him but I can't help but still love the poor guy lol I feel bad for him cause he only did it twice (even though i know that shouldn't be an excuse) plus he had such a great future ahead of him. It sucks, especially since Korean is pretty harsh when it comes to drug use (come on, this is coming from the country that banned songs that they found "inappropriate," do you expect anything less?)
Grrr stupid Yoon Seol-hee...it's all because she got caught... XP

Hope that none of my favs (or cast of BOF) are part of this scandal also TT_TT

Wow. This story is so ridiculously crazy (Korean ent. wise, but not as tragic as the one of that BOF actress who committed suicide... why haven't her rape allegations been followed up?). Anyway.

This is a huge shocker, but one that was inevitable. Entertainment industries (no matter where they are) are filled with famous names that indulge in illegal and unhealthy lifestyles. The Korean entertainment business, compared to a few others, seemed to be a little more crafty with not letting scandals such as these become common place (like the American entertainment industry). I hope this is not going to become a trend, with celebs being outed and arrested for bad behaviour, but if people need to be taught a lesson about obeying the law, I welcome more news like this. I understand that there is a another level of stress involved with being in the limelight and we've all heard of those ridiculous work hours that allow for a few hours of sleep every night for weeks, but that is no excuse. With their fame should come a level of awareness. You're a public figure now, you're watched with microscopic intensity. Be a little mindful, will ya?

If there are any more K-celebs out there, shaking in their boots because of their own bad habits, I hope they kick them. Kick them fast.

The news of that 'kkot-minam' suspect is also disheartening. I have someone in mind, but hopefully, it's not him. There are so many kkot-minam singers on variety shows so I will refrain from being presumptuous.

BTW. Thanks, javabeans, for having the most reliable English coverage on the net!

@ 47, for some reason i thought that too. I love KHJ but it makes me question if that was the reason for his lost personality and the time he and buddy TOP(also a ?) overdosed on sleeping pills but then, they're still kinda young and their agencies have a tight leash on them. If they were doing that I'm sure they'd get their ears twisted by their agencies. Unlike the older singers like JunJin or Hwanhee, who are independent enough to do what they want. I doubt it's Brian or Chae yeon like #26 said because they haven't been on tv that much.

@ #11,
>>> I feel bad for Joo Ji-hoon == >
But should he be treated like he has no value as an actor or as a pariah in the industry for eternity because of it? Not at all. I think that people universally desire redemption in their fallen heroes

my sentiments too. the instant "pariah" status ... oh boy.
if he is driven to suicide ... would it make matters any better?

the moving-on process after a mistake, is more important in my books.

Samsooki summed it up very well in the other original thread (#179?)

*********************************************************************************
#22
>>> Am I a cynic if I say that this really does not surprise me? I’m more surprised that there aren’t more scandals of drug use, sex, videotapes in the Asian entertainment industry like there is in Europe and the US considering how most people love to read about scandals.

this type of news does NOT surprise me much either - it exists in the modelling and showbiz industry - globally. there is dirt under the glam be it drugs or other issues.

it just does not see the light of day everytime, esp not in Asia.

and has this not crossed anyone's mind?
drugs can also be a means of control, for the agencies.

what's also interesting - if they'd been tracking the trio and their drug involvement and going-ons for some time - is the timing coincidental that they expose the news NOW??
perfect.
nothing like another smokescreen. this scandal is also going in at same time the many industry bigwigs involved in BOF's Jang Ja Yeon suicide case are also up for trial, ain't it??

@52 ''I feel bad for him cause he only did it twice''

^This you dont know for sure. He could have just said he only used it twice. I seriously doubt it though cause the model Yeh Hak-young and Joo Ji Hoon were very close and were like brothers to eachother. Yeh Hak-young was the one supplying Yoon with 100 hundred million won to buy drugs.
Even before the drug bust, a lot of netizens have already commented that JJH looked stoned including me.

COMO PUDO ARRUINAR ASI SU CARRERA

Meh. I just hope JJH will stay strong and get through this; we don't need another Ent. Industry/ Netizen hate related suicide.

Everybody making such a big deal out of it. I think almost all entertainment business runs with drug. Most of them are recreatinoal user, some maybe deep into drugs. JJH is not different from the rest of them, his fault was getting caught that is all. He needs to got to the rehab. Say sorry to public and get on with his life.

":He needs to got to the rehab. "

eh. I dont get it >.<
Aren't rehabs for people who need help quitting? If he's not addicted and such, why would he have to go to rehab just for using it? We don't even know how much he's been using it, so perhaps maybe he really did only use it twice.

"Everybody making such a big deal out of it."

Meh. For people who like to imagine him being their boyfriend, ideal husband, the good-looking guy.... finding out the JJH uses drugs isn't that pleasing to hear. It ruins all the other fantasies people have. Not everyone wants a boyfriend who uses drugs. The ideal husband thing goes crashing down too. May be good looking but can't respect a dude as much when you know he's on drugs.

He just isn't what he seemed he was, and so in a way, it is a big deal.

I'm not condoning his behavior, he made his choices and now he's going to pay for it, but I also happen to think that it's not AS BIG a deal as people are making it out to be - in the case of joo ji-hoon. he dropped some e at a couple of parties - a lot worse used to go on when raves were the big thing here in cali. i feel bad because after watching him in antique, i feel he had a pretty promising actor's career ahead of him, and to get busted now at a young age... well, it sucks. in a few years, if he hadn't progressed into a full-time druggie, he would've probably looked back and laughed at his stupidity.

Feel free to skip. I just needed to rant. There's nothing informative here.

I read this a couple of hours ago and, after the initial shock, I started thinking about the whole situation. I agree with a lot of you about how JJH should handle it, and I hope the other two have a strong support system so that they'll be able to carry on after jail. I seriously don't want to read about anyone else dying.

But, interestingly enough, what bothered me the most out of everything wasn't the news itself or that JJH was involved -- though it's terribly disappointing. What bothered me the most was the fact that we're the ones that get punished for his stupidity. (I know you can't get more self-centered than this. I've come to terms with it.) I mean, we have to miss out on him because he was stupid enough to get involved in the whole mess! Forget getting caught. There wouldn't be anything to catch if he had just stayed home or working or had watched an after school special and had said NO. I'm so pissed off at him. I wanna smack him upside the head.

I'm running out of actors too, favorite ones. They either die or go off to do their military service for far too long and now this.

Sorry, I'll stop now. Thanks for the hard work, javabeans! Best blog ever. Rant over.

"There wouldn’t be anything to catch if he had just stayed home or working or had watched an after school special and had said NO."

You mean saying no as in denying it? it would have been worse if he denied it. If Yoon Seol-hee or Yeh Hak-Young told about it later, people would find out perhaps anyways. Therefore, the situation might have been worse for him if he hid it ^^;;

But if you meant just not accepting the drugs in the first place, than yeah I agree ^^

Im just catching up with tnis now but the police have been tracking the drug operation for awhile?

And athough I think his career is effectively over, I dont feel as though he has to apologize to the public for his behavior, honestly, he is not accountable to them but more to himself and his family/friends.

It is just really disappointing and this will effectively shut him out of the industry and he could also say goodbye to his personal life as well since he will no doubt be an outcast altogether.

Here's something I've been thinking about, and was hoping someone could shed some light on it for those who aren't Korean and don't know much about Korean society. I'm hoping Javabeans or anyone can answer this. Of all the places, I find this site one of the more reliable source of info.

A while back, I remember my Korean roommate in college telling me that it's a real big scandal when a celebrity/celebrities are caught purposely trying to evade the mandatory military service through fake medical docs or other reasons. I can understand why people would be outrage over that. I just want to know what the difference is between a scandal like that and scandals involving illegal drugs. If a person who has been caught purposely evading their military service obligation goes and does his 2 years, and afterward is able to have a career again, then how come those involved in drug scandals are automatically "written off", meaning that their career is "definitely over"? Is it because those caught up in drug scandals usually have to serve time in jail, and as a result, their career is over?

I'm not condoning drug usage, smuggling, buying, selling, etc. all of that. I do agree that those who sell them should be placed in jail. I just think it's a shame that a person's career will be over just for using drugs, even if they "claim" to have used it only once or twice, while those who had purposely evaded military services can make a comeback.

When I read this news yesterday, my initial reactions were shock, disbelief, and finally disappointment. I think JJH had a promising career, and if it ends because of his poor choice, then I think it's a shame. I don't think he's necessarily the bad person some people are making him out to be. I just think he's very human, someone who made some very poor choices. Nonetheless, as a fellow human, I only wish him the best and hopes that he recovers from this. If his entertainment career is definitely over, then I hope he finds peace and moves forward onto the next journey of his life. He has a long road ahead of him, and I hope that he will carry on with the support of his family and friends.

Also, I think it's very brave of him to admit to his drug usage even though he knows fully what the consequences will be by admitting to it. Even though his career may be over, I think it was for the best that he admitted to it early on. It probably would have been a lot worse if he had initially lied about using drugs and then it was revealed afterward that he had in fact used them.

@ 55 jusash

Second that last thought of yours.
There must be a massive amount of people out there, racing around on damage control in the entertainment, financial, media and law fields for some time now. What to expose, what to cover up, who to protect, who to offer up as a scapegoat. Lots of the possible plots in the dramas, have a plausability of reflecting real events.
Saddening as the events of 2009 have been so far, this could refect the puppet masters loss of control. Scarry place at the top, because the only other way is down.....

Rant over.

Thank you for keeping us updated! While I know what JJH did was stupid, I so glad he wasn't one of the people involved in smuggling and selling the drugs. Hopefully he can learn from his mistakes and recover his career eventually.. >_<

It's funny when I see people saying that it was brave of Joo Ji Hoon for admitting that he used drugs. He had no choice but to admit it. His friends snitched on him, so it's not as if he had a choice. He knew that denying it could get him in worse situation than he is now. Investigators have a way of getting a confession out of people. If they can get a confession out of criminals, how much more of Joo Ji Hoon who's offense isn't even close as the crimes that others have committed.

This post and the previous one pertaining to it seems to have caused quite a stir, and I love it. Thanks again Javabeans, on your keen insights. It's interesting how some people are baffled as to how this will ruin Joo Ji Hoon's career as an actor. Bouncing back after getting caught with drug use is 10x harder in South Korea, than it is in the U.S. The public may have embraced back certain American celebrities, even after being caught numerous times with drug use. However, in my opinion, it'll be very hard for Mr. Joo, unless the Korea's public is going to turn a blind eye.

Hwang Soo Jung, who was very popular during the late 90s and early 2000, was arrested for using philopon (aka crystal meth). She was out of the K-Entertainment industry scene for quite a while, then reappeared in 2007 in Salt Doll. However, I think the drama was somewhat unsuccessful, seeing that nobody really talked about it. If someone like her, who was once a very popular actress, had to stay out of the limelight for years, think of what Joo Ji Hoon has to do to make amends with the public eye.

thanks javabeans for being so informative to us non-korean speakers!

I just want to begin by saying that there is a HUGE difference between one evading a military duty to someone caught using drugs. I would not really want to react on the post but c'mon I can't believe that you do not know the difference between the two.

Anyone can understand why there are people who do not want to do their mandatory military duty. Not everyone wants to go to the army. This is the reason why in other countries, no one forces you to do it, its voluntary. Korea has its own reasons why they made it obligatory.

Doing drugs is one hell of another matter. It is harmful and if the situation gets worse if you get addicted to it. After that it is not only yourself that will be affected but the people around you. It has a domino effect which is harmful to the community.

When you evade military duty and it was leaked to the public, it is only your pride that is tainted when you do drugs, pride is just a small matter here, it is physically harmful. This is the reason why they are called illegal drugs. Health experts found that these kind of drugs is harmful to the human body.

So, there is a huge difference why those who tried evading the military duty is more tolerable and so their careers did not really suffer. There are quite a few people who are lucky enough to be forgiven over and over again like Robert Downey Jr .

We will see now, after JJH survive this part of his life, if the Korean public is forgiving or not but for the meantime while this is going on, he can kiss his career goodbye.

Can he bounce back, a bigger percentage will be a NO but there is no such thing as impossible so prayers can help a lot. Maybe by the time this is all over, Korea will be more accepting of people who are determine to repent, that is, if JJH chooses to be a better and strong person after this.

Just my two cents. Thanks javabeans for your blog.

Thank you for the correct facts on this. Popseoul still has it wrong.

i think i'm still in denial that i'll probably never catch JJH in a film or drama again.

sigh. he was so good in Mawang.

JI hoon Ssi, this is not the ending..You've been given a chance..It's just the beginning of a brand new day to you; to start it all over again..Don't give up..Everybody makes mistakes..Learn from the worst to make you a better and stronger one..Himnae Ji Hoon ssi..My pray is always be with you..

I love the choice of pictures you put up. Joo Ji Hoon is looking down which is where his career is going and the girl looks like an evil lolita witch, haha.... Not that I don't blame Joo Ji Hoon for his drug habit, but I'm biased coz I love him in Antique. This is all very sad and disappointing to his fans.... Yes, I do trust your site more than other entertainment sites, whose information I take with a pinch of salt. This was so unexpected though. Why him? Pretty boy on variety shows = Brian? Haha, but I hope not, I adore the guy!

@ 69

Yes, he had no choice but to admit it since the girl revealed his name. However, in that situation, it still takes some courage to admit what you did. Not every can say that they themselves are able to easily admit their mistakes, especially when they have everything to lose.

@71

Yes, I know the difference between the two. Perhaps it's because I grew up in the west, but I just don't get why people are so easy to forgive those who purposely try to avoid their obligations as a citizen in South Korea and so ready to condemn those who uses drugs. If a person uses it once, as an experiment or whatever, and was caught, does that mean his/her life is over?

Yes, "illegal drugs" are harmful to the body, but so are "safe" drugs: alcohol and nicotine. Heavy consumption of alcohol can cause health problems such as liver damage, while smoking is a cause of emphysema, and lung cancer not only to the smokers, but also to those around them. People have gotten lung cancer from second hand smoke. All drugs are harmful to the body, not just those branded "illegal drugs."

I remember a couple of months ago, I read an article about a Korean singer who has been banned from returning to South Korea because he evaded military service. Though he now has a career in China, he hasn't been able to return to Korea. This had nothing to do with a drug scandal, but yet the punishment is the same since he has no career in Korea now.

Who gets to decide who gets a second chance and who gets damned for life? Song Seung Hun and So Ji Sup gets welcomed back, while that Korean singer is banned from Korea. Is there really a difference between military and drug scandals?

@65, Mei-

I'm not sure how big of a "scandal" it is to try to evade military service in Korea. First, there are different kinds of evasion. Some get a cushier posting for their service based on medical or other exemptions, others get deferments based on educational status or other reasons. And celebs don't all go at the same time when they first reach service age (since university status delays service), so it is difficult to ascertain what their status is.

For these reasons, it's not really that notable unless it is announced that a particular celeb doesn't have to serve at all (say, due to a severe medical condition) or due to a special legislative exemption (say, granted from the government for popular reasons like World Baseball Classic players or World Cup soccer players, or for underhanded reasons like a powerful politician's son). That said, it is a topic that every Korean can relate to, because the vast majority of Korean males have served in the military in some respect.

But you'll find that rather than universal uproar with respect any particular exemption, it is more of a cynical response. That's just the way it is. Most Korean guys that I know that have gone through compulsory military service would say that if they could have gotten away with it, they would have tried too.

***

As for drug offenses, this is a different story. Drug use is dirty, drug use is lower than being human (hard to translate the exact feeling), and using is "non" Korean character flaw that has been brought over from foreign lands.

All of this places a huge stigma upon the drug user, and that kind of stigma isn't easily erased. Even if the drug user apologizes and tries to make amends, the stigma of being dirty, of being below human, of having a sickness inside of you, that kind of stigma remains. You can be forgiven, but you can't erase the stigma.

It is hard for the stigma to just go away even in a year or two, because culture just doesn't change that fast normally. I can say, "JJH is still the same person" and I can mean it, but I can also see how my parents and my relatives in Korea would say the opposite - that JJH is sick and is disgusting to look at, roughly translated.

-Samsooki

thanks for the update :) after all the hoopla on JJH I am more interested now on how authorities will nail the big time supplier .... Yoon is a courier, YYH collects money from users.....JJH plus God knows how many celebs in K -ent plus non celebs as well are Users.... what about MR SUPPLIER-top of chain-head honcho of this syndicate ?? big players in this circus? I wonder who'll be vigilant enough to run after them.....

no offense, it's not like I'm condoning JJH for taking drugs, but because I live in SoCal, I don't really see the "big deal" here. I understand that taking drugs is no joke and anyone with any kind of sensibility would/should not do such a thing, but drug usage is such a prevalent thing among celebrities and people in the entertainment/fashion industry, that I wouldn't be surprise if half of them have not tried drugs at one point in their lives. This just needs to die down...and hopefully this will not totally BREAK JJH's career. I mean just look at Robert Downey Jr. and the great comeback he's made; or even Drew Barrymore. =]]

I was feeling sorry for JJH until I read something from the Yoon Eun Hye thread in soompi. Because of JJH's stupidity her name has been dragged along with his into the mudd.
Apparently, because of the similarity of Yoon Seol-hee and Yoon Eun Hye's name, the chinese media now think that the Miss Yoon that all the articles were referring to was Yoon Eun Hye. It has become so out of hand, to the point that related keywords for YEH include "YEH drug scandal" and etc.
It's ridiculous that her reputation is getting tarnish because of Joo Ji Hoon's stupidity. http://nownews.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20090427601008

Just to add to the military service-vs-drugs effect on a showbiz career: part of the acceptance of re-entry is kind of touch-and-go. could we say it's a litmus test for the perceived worth of a celebrity's appeal? 2 older actors who were very active in the 90s, got convicted of buying sex from minors in early-2000s. their comebacks have been very different: one seems to have better connections within industry (and is arguably more skilled), and has gone on to play supporting roles in rather high-profile movies/stage plays to this day (often as the Villain.) the other is still blacklisted, and receives public outcry every time he attempts to go back to TV. it's interesting that one person's past is all but forgotten, while the other one can't be seen as anything but his crime.

@MEIKO: *hugzzz* maybe you should head over to the JJH thread @ soompi........ I think you'll find some comfort there, babe^^
-----------------------
IMO, attempting to overcome this scandal and maintain his celebrity status is extremely difficult for JJH.......Korea and other Asian countries don't have as lenient a view on drugs as the US. I mean, I've become so desensitized about celebrities in our country using drugs that if I hear about one of them getting busted, I'll just expect the whole apology-then rehab-then comeback attempt routine........Hope JJH and other people who careers are probably will be destroyed by this scandal have the mental toughness to get through this
-------------------------
"Yoon smuggled the drugs past customs by inserting them into a menstrual pad (ewww!), which she then wore over an extra pair of underwear. "

1 more reason NOT to do drugs right there!!!! You don't know where the drugs came from, literally!!!! No matter how you spin it, still one of the grossest things ever!!!!! Just a big EWWWWW!!!! EWWWWWW!!!!! ><

Thanks for the update JB! Ugly...

pretty curious on who else uses drugs..
they say some of them are famous..
who could that be?

The “kkot-minam”that is active in korea talkshow!! just making me crazy now...

the first person come across my mind is Junjin!! i'm really praying hard it's not him... cause he's really active in recent korea variety show n he's sure a "pretty boy"

pls let my suspection be WRONG...

#86 read this http://nownews.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20090427601008

you dont see why i am pissed about it?
how would u feel if kang ji hwan's name was dragged into something that could possibly ruin him and he wasn't even involved? you'd be pissed too.

“a famous singer who appears on television talk shows frequently.”
Kkotminam??!!!
please not the suju boys...

thank you JB for the update...
it gonna be uglier and messier this week (or month??!!)
i just hope they release other names as soon as possible so we can have it, disscussed it and get over it... it drive me crazy waiting for the updates...

although i don't live in Korea, i know Asian countries looked upon drug users with that kinda label 'dirty' as Samsooki stated in #77, but i really hope that the society will forgive JJH (given as many time they need) and he will return to the entertainment world, such a waste of talent if he were never going to have a future in Korean Ent. world

If someone is Using drugs its the same of possession of drugs. No difference

You know what, even with his drug bust, he shouldn't suffer for it. The fan meet shouldn't be canceled because the fans are going to be even more disappointed then had he went on with it with the drug accusation to his name.
If they were true fans, they would cut the dude some slack. People slip. As long as he isn't addicted!! If he is, well then everyone knows what goes on from there.

The movie bomb... I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I'm assuming they dropped him because they don't want the "bad press" damaging their "promotional efforts," but if he showed potential to make the movie into something great, why not keep the guy.

I wonder what other celebrities are connected to this bust. =\

I'm so biased.
Poor guy, he was stupid to get stuck in that predicament and hopefully he learns his lesson. Huge disappointment there, but if all goes well, he'll be fined a large amount and that's it. I don't know how the law works over in Korea.

Pretty boys are shaking now..(not with the Ex pill ..but thinking the cops might come knocking' on their door anytime now..) LOL..
Emm..just to say that So JiSub was not in the SSH/Jang Hyuk/ Han JaeSuk army thing..
That skank Yoon probably needed more money to do more adventures on her face..
But this is not the end Ju JiHun..just go serve the army and you'll come back a strong man with muscles..
Thanks JB for more infos on this ..some sites are ridiculous..seriously.

"If someone is Using drugs its the same of possession of drugs. No difference"

Yeah. By the end of the day youre just a citizen in Korea and is treated the same as others. The only thing is, he's probably being seen as a bad influence within society being such a public figure >.>

Recently, lots of incidents have been occurring.

Korea - JJH incident.

Hong Kong - Jill Wei incident (Taking drugs illegally)

Japan - Tsuyoshi Kusanagi drunk and naked in the park. Last I heard, Japanese minister Kunio Hatoyama called him shameless >.>

hmm.. in such circumstances, will the army still want him to serve? being a drug user?

#71 .............. This is the reason why in other countries, no one forces you to do it, its voluntary. Korea has its own reasons why they made it obligatory

NO. serving national service is compulsory in Singapore as well.

#76. i guess you are talking the one who gave up his Korean citizenship to avoid serving NS

as far as i am concerned, none of Chinese website mistaken his Goong's female counterpart with d lady who sold durgs to him

but some survey shows, 70% of his fans still support him ..

I'm really wondering if readers here on Dramabeans would stop watching any of Joo Ji Hoon's dramas or movies after this scandal broke out. I honestly cannot find a reason why I would. I even think drug use is bad but that won't stop me from ever watching Goong again or Devil or Antique Bakery or Naked Kitchen.

I watch dramas and movies for the pure entertainment value and if the actor can convey a character properly then why should he be held back from acting.

People have mentioned Robert Downey Jr and his drug use but he has kept on making movies and had a huge hit with Iron Man. When I watched Iron Man, I wasn't sitting there in the movie theater thinking about how RD Jr was a past druggie. I was sitting in my chair thoroughly enjoying him playing Iron Man.

Just wondering what other readers were thinking. Would something like this situation really make you stop watching your favorite stars dramas or movies?

that's just too bad...poor guy. I loved him in Goong...awww....