Singer Kim Ji-hoon receives suspended jail term

Singing duo Duke member Kim Ji-hoon was given a suspended prison sentence on Thursday for illegal drug use in the latest case of a string of celebrity drug scandals.

The Seoul Eastern District Court handed a 10-month jail term, suspended for two years along with a fine of 130,000 won to Kim, also a former top TV personality who rose to popularity after debuting as a member of 1994 pop group Two Two.

Kim was arrested in July after being found to have swallowed several pills of ecstasy and smoked marijuana at a club in January.

This was the second time he was arrested on the same charges -- the first time was in 2005. He did not receive a jail sentence at the time either but was charged a fine of 20 million won.

Actor Ju Ji-hoon was arrested a month ahead of Kim for taking ecstasy and ketamine last year. Ju received a six-month jail term suspended for one year, along with 120 hours of community service and a 360,000 fine.

Reporter : Park So-yoen muse@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr