Actor caught for methamphetamine use

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Actor Kim Seong-min, 36, was arrested Saturday for possessing and habitually using the banned drug methamphetamine.

According to the prosecution, he admitted to purchasing the drug overseas and smuggling it into the country, during the questioning.

The prosecution requested an arrest warrant for Kim Friday and the court issued one the following day.

"We are investigating Kim further to determine what was the exact process of purchase and whether he had accomplices", a prosecutor said.

He has been appearing on KBS Happy Sunday's "Qualifications of a Man", a variety show, and presented a fun, positive image. However, the discovery of his drug use has ruined the trust he had built up with the viewing public.

He apologized through Twitter Saturday evening. "I am sorry to all those people who are disappointed in me and hurt by me, my family and everyone I love", he wrote on his micro-blog.

He will also be taken off "Qualifications of a Man". The producer of the variety program said it is expected for him to be removed from the show as he was arrested for drug use.

"We edited out Kim's appearance on the program from this week's broadcast and will discuss finding his replacement soon", he said.

Kim, who made his small screen debut in 2005, has appeared on several hit television dramas including "Miss Mermaid" (2002), "Heaven's Fate" (2004) and "Fantastic Couple" (2006).



탤런트 김성민 필로폰 투약 혐의로 구속

"남자의 자격"에 출연하고 있는 탤런트 김성민(36)이 마약 소지 및 상습적 투약 혐의로 토요일 검찰에 구속됐다.

김씨는 검찰 조사에서 해외에서 필로폰을 구입해 직접 밀반입했다고 진술한 것으로 알려졌다.

검찰은 금요일 김씨를 조사하고 구속영장을 청구했고, 서울중앙지법은 토요일 저녁 도주 우려가 있다며 영장을 발부했다.

김성민은 토요일 저녁 자신의 트위터에 "죄송합니다. 저로 인해 실망하고 상처받을 모든 분들과 우리 가족들과 제가 사랑한 사람들 모두에게"라는 글을 남기기도 했다.

최근 KBS "해피 선데이-남자의 자격"에서 밝고 활달한 이미지로 인기를 얻은 김씨는 이번 구속으로 인해 프로그램에서도 퇴출될 전망이다.

1995년에 데뷔한 김씨는 "인어 아가씨", "왕꽃선녀님", "환상의 커플" 등의 드라마에 출연했다.