Rumors Involving BTS... Celebrity Drug Gossip Scandal Following Lee Seon-gyun and GD

Top-tier Celebrities Involved in Rumors Spread
"Will There Be More Celebrities?"... Entertainment Stocks Decline

As it became known that actor Lee Sun-kyun (48) and singer G-Dragon (Kwon Ji-yong, 35) were involved in the 'Gangnam Entertainment District Drug Case,' baseless rumors have been spreading throughout the entertainment industry.

On the 26th, the Metropolitan Investigation Unit of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency announced that they are investigating five individuals on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act.

The investigation targets include four drug users, including Lee and Kwon, and one person suspected of providing drugs, totaling five people.

Lee Sun-kyun (left) and G-Dragon (Kwon Ji-yong, right), member of the group Big Bang [Photo by CJ ENM, Yonhap News]

In addition, there are five individuals under preliminary investigation (internal inquiry) related to the case, making a total of ten people involved in the incident.

Among those under internal inquiry, aside from a celebrity trainee, a third-generation chaebol, and a former broadcaster turned composer, the other two have been confirmed as ordinary citizens.

However, rumors have been spreading that multiple celebrities, including top-tier singers, are involved as internal inquiry subjects, causing damage to the stock market and the entertainment industry.

In response, HYBE stated, "BTS is not related to these rumors and they are completely false," adding, "We will strongly respond to indiscriminate rumor spreading."

Besides HYBE, agencies representing celebrities implicated in the rumors were busy denying the claims, stating, "This is completely untrue."

The police also dismissed the rumors, saying, "There are no additional celebrities under investigation at this time," but added, "We cannot disclose specific details of the investigation."

Especially as the drug scandal in the entertainment industry spread, all entertainment stocks showed a sharp decline on the day.

HYBE closed down 10.72% at 204,000 KRW. Other companies also fell, including SM Entertainment (-5.14%), JYP Entertainment (-6.17%), and Cube Entertainment (-7.86%). YG Entertainment, Kwon's former agency, also dropped by 7.89%. Although YG stated, "Since the artist is not currently under our agency, it is difficult to respond officially" regarding Kwon's drug allegations, it could not prevent the stock price decline.

The sell-off is presumed to be due to investors' fatigue intensifying amid concerns that more celebrities might be implicated.

Meanwhile, among the drug users in the 'Gangnam Entertainment District Drug Case,' A (29), a manager at an entertainment establishment, was arrested on the 21st, while Lee, Kwon, and B, an employee at the entertainment venue, were booked without detention. Also, Dr. C, a physician at a hospital in Seoul suspected of providing drugs to them, was booked without detention.

The police are investigating, believing that the five, including A, have been using and providing drugs from early this year until recently.

Additionally, the police plan to investigate a case where Lee claimed to have suffered damages of 350 million KRW due to extortion and threats related to drugs from B and filed a complaint.

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