[앵커]
The police have banned singer G-Dragon and actor Lee Sun-kyun, who are suspected of drug use, from leaving the country and are speeding up their investigation.
G-Dragon issued a statement three days after the suspicions arose and denied all related charges.
This is reporter Kim Tae-hoon’s report.
[리포트]
The police imposed a ban on leaving the country for singer Kwon Ji-yong, the leader of Big Bang and who has been active under the name G-Dragon.
It has been three days since suspicions of drug use arose.
The Incheon Police Agency’s drug crime investigation unit announced that it had discovered that Mr. Kwon was currently staying in the country and had banned him from leaving the country through the Ministry of Justice.
A ban on leaving the country was also imposed on Lee Seon-gyun, who was booked on suspicion of drug use before Kwon.
While a current doctor was previously booked on charges of giving drugs to these people, the police are also planning to test reagents to check whether the drugs were administered.
In addition, digital forensic work will be conducted on the cell phone of an employee of an entertainment establishment in Gangnam, Seoul, where this incident began, to determine whether there are additional suspects.
Meanwhile, Kwon Ji-yong completely denied the drug use charges.
In a statement issued through his legal representative, Mr. Kwon pleaded his innocence, saying, “I have never taken drugs,” and “I have nothing to do with drug-related news reports.”
He added, “We will actively cooperate with the investigative agency’s investigation.”
Mr. Kwon was also booked on charges of smoking marijuana in 2011, but the prosecution received a suspended indictment.
At the time, the agency explained that during the Japan tour, he was offered a drink at a bar, but he thought it was a cigarette and inhaled it.
As a ban on leaving the country has been imposed on Mr. Kwon and Mr. Lee, it is expected that a police summons and investigation will be conducted soon.
This is Taehoon Kim from KBS News.
Video Editing: Geun-Hwan Kim
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