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Will drug busts continue?

Actor Kim Sung-min to be indicted next week

By Park Si-soo

As three popular entertainers have been caught for taking banned drugs in a matter of two weeks, speculation is rampant that the prosecution has gotten its hands on a list of entertainers who have used illegal drugs and is broadening its investigation.

Swirling around the accusations are reports that popular actor Kim Sung-min, who was arrested early this month and now is in pre-trial detention for possessing and habitually using methamphetamine, disclosed the list of ten entertainers that also took illegal drugs habitually.

The prosecution Thursday denied the rumor, saying no additional entertainers are being investigated. A prosecutor said that it plans to wrap up the investigation after indicting actor Kim with physical detention next week.

However, industry insiders do not completely rule out the possibility of a widening crackdown, taking note of a prosecutor's comment that the three were caught "by chance".

The third entertainer caught for drug use was comedian Jeon Chang-gul. The 43-year-old — who made his name for his ample knowledge about movies and witty commentaries in a weekend movie-preview TV program — was arrested Wednesday for smoking marijuana, according to the Seoul Central District Court that approved his detention.

It came just two weeks after actor Kim was arrested. The two reportedly met several times to take illegal drugs together. Kim is also suspected of smuggling the drugs into the country.

Singer Crown J was the other disgraced celebrity along with the two. The Korean-American singer, whose real name is Kim Kye-hoon, is suspected of having smoked marijuana in the U.S. Police said he was living in Atlanta from May 2009 to October 2010 to record his new album and there he obtained and smoked marijuana five times.

Another factor supporting the speculation that there are other celebrity suspects is based on the typical pattern of drug use by entertainers in the past that was exposed through similar scandals — entertainers take drugs in groups.

Last year, up-and-coming movie star Ju Ji-hoon, 27, stood trial for illegal drug use along with three fellow entertainers. Joo admitted to having taken ecstasy in March 2008 during parties with his friends in the entertainment industry.

Show business experts said it no longer comes as a surprise to find out about drug-using entertainers in South Korea and entertainers commonly use drugs in groups. "They rarely use it alone", an insider of the business said, declining to be named.

Meanwhile, the prosecution Tuesday decided to extend the investigation into actor Kim by another 10 days, citing the need for further questioning.
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Comedian Jeon Chang-gul


개그맨 전창걸도 구속

개그맨 전창걸(43)이 마약혐의로 구속됐다.

서울중앙지검 강력부(김희준 부장검사)는 15일 대마초를 피운 혐의로 개그맨 전창걸(43)씨를 구속했다.

검찰에 따르면 전씨는 최근 여러 차례 대마초를 피우고 탤런트 김성민(구속)씨에게 자신이 가진 대마초 일부를 건넨 혐의를 받고 있다.

검찰은 지난 4일 히로뽕과 대마초 등 마약을 투약한 혐의로 김씨를 구속해 마약 구입 경위를 수사하는 과정에서 전씨의 혐의를 포착한 것으로 알려졌다.

검찰 측은 뉴데일리와의 전화통화에서 전창걸의 마약혐의에 대해 "김성민과 전혀 무관하지는 않는 듯 싶다"고 밝혀 김성민리스트가 하나씩 공개되는 것 아니냐는 추측이 일고 있다.

전씨는 1991년 개그맨으로 데뷔, SBS 접속무비월드를 진행하는 등 방송, 영화, 연극 등 다양한 분야에서 활동했다. 그는 최근 동료 연예인 김성민이 구속되자 몹시 불안한 기색을 보이며 구속 전일인 14일 SBS 접속무비월드 제작진에 전화를 걸어 자진 하차 의사를 밝힌 것으로 드러났다.

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