Announcer-turned-broadcaster Kim Na-jung / Captured from her Instagram
Kim Na-jung, a TV presenter-turned-celebrity under investigation for using drugs overseas, said through her lawyer that she was forcibly administered drugs while in the Philippines.
In a statement she released on social media on Monday, Kim said, "I am sorry for causing concern. This statement reflects my lawyer's position, and I will fully cooperate with the investigation."
The statement was written by Kim Yeon-ki, a lawyer from the law firm HMP Law.
A post shared by Kim Na-jung on her social media during her stay in the Philippines on Nov. 12. Captured from Kim Na-jung's Instagram
According to the statement, Kim traveled to the Philippines after being introduced to a businessman. Kim alleged the businessman promised to assist with her business, and she visited the Philippines solely for that purpose.
The lawyer denied allegations of "sponsorship" arrangements — where financial support is exchanged for companionships with public figures.
The statement alleged that the man forced Kim to inhale drugs, with evidence of her hands being tied and her eyes blindfolded captured in a video.
The lawyer described the businessman as a fugitive wanted for multiple crimes who cannot return to Korea and who threatened to kill Kim and those around her if she revealed his identity.
The lawyer also insisted that Kim's drug use occurred only once and was not voluntary.
"She has never used drugs multiple times, as some speculate, and there was no reason for her to do so in a country like the Philippines, where drug penalties are severe," the statement said.
Police investigation
The Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency announced plans to summon Kim for one or two more rounds of questioning. "So far, she has undergone initial questioning at Incheon International Airport Police and has been transferred to our jurisdiction for further investigation," a narcotics investigation official said.
Kim had posted on social media on Nov. 12, confessing to drug use in the Philippines. She returned to South Korea on the same day and underwent a drug test, which returned positive for methamphetamine. She was subsequently booked without detention.
While the police confirmed there are no plans to investigate the claims made about incidents in the Philippines, they will proceed with their inquiry based on Kim's statements and evidence gathered in Korea.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.