"Need Inspiration?"... 'Drug Promotion Cards' Spreading in University Areas

Printing QR Codes with Descriptive Text
Found at Konkuk University Following Hongik University

Following Hongik University, card-type advertisements seemingly encouraging drug purchases have been found at Konkuk University as well.

According to Konkuk University on the 23rd, a card with the phrase "Contact me if you have liquid weed" was found stuck on a car window in the underground parking lot of the university's Arts and Culture Hall that morning.

Suspicious drug advertisement card found at Hongik University.
[Photo by Hongik University Everytime]

The card appears to be the same as the advertisement found in the art building of Hongik University on the 22nd.

The business card-sized advertisement contains English text saying, "Need inspiration? We have prepared a revolutionary product 'liquid weed' for you. Completely legal." Along with phrases describing hallucinogenic effects, it also says, "Contact me while it's still legal," and a QR code is printed on the back.

The Gwangjin Police Station received a report from Konkuk University that day and is tracking the suspect who distributed the advertisements through CCTV verification and other means.

Konkuk University issued an urgent notice to students stating, "Currently, card-type advertisements promoting drugs are being found inside campus buildings. Please do not access the QR codes displayed on these advertisements if found."

Meanwhile, under the current Narcotics Control Act, except for medical purposes, smoking or ingesting marijuana or the husks of marijuana seeds is illegal.

Article 3, Paragraph 7 of the same law prohibits exporting, importing, manufacturing, selling, or brokering the sale of marijuana without approval from the Minister of Food and Drug Safety as prescribed by Presidential Decree. It is also illegal to widely disseminate or present information about these prohibited acts through flyers or advertisements.

Despite the recent increase in drug-related crimes, punishments remain 'lenient'

On this day, Konkuk University announced, "Currently, business card-type advertisements, including drug-related promotions, are being found in campus buildings," and issued an urgent notice to students, stating, "Please do not access the QR codes displayed on these advertisements if found."
[Photo by Konkuk University website]

Drug-related crimes in South Korea have been significantly increasing recently. According to statistics from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, 10,252 drug offenders were caught from January to June this year, a 19.6% increase compared to 8,575 during the same period in 2022.

Earlier in April, a voice phishing organization deceived 13 students in the Gangnam district by distributing 100 bottles of drug-laced drinks mixed with methamphetamine, calling them "concentration enhancement drinks." The perpetrators then threatened the victims' parents by saying they would report their children for drug use charges and demanded money.

Such widespread drug diffusion among young people is also attributed to lenient punishments by the courts. Last year, there were 5,458 first-instance trials related to violations of the Narcotics Control Act. Among these, only 2,624 cases resulted in prison sentences, accounting for less than half (48.1%) of the total.

Conversely, the rate of suspended sentences increased from 36% in 2020 to nearly 40% last year. Above all, the sentencing guidelines themselves are low, making it difficult to receive actual prison terms. Under Korean law, the basic sentences for drug-related offenses start at six months imprisonment for use and simple possession, eight months for sale and brokerage, and ten months for import/export and manufacturing.

Even for possession, purchase, or sale of large quantities of drugs valued over 5 million won, the basic sentence is only three years.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.