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| Actor Yoo Ah-in is under investigation for illegal drug use. Courtesy of Netflix |
By Lee Gyu-lee
Actor Yoo Ah-in, whose real name is Uhm Hong-sik, has tested positive for the anesthetic drug, propofol, adding to earlier charges of illegal drug use he already faces for marijuana use.
The National Forensic Service recently tested Yoo's hair sample and informed him, Thursday, that the results came back positive. The police will summon Yoo for further questioning to look into additional charges.
"We will release a formal statement once we appoint a lawyer," the actor's agency, UAA, told media outlets.
The recent probe into the actor's drug use was initiated after the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) requested that the police investigate a list of people suspected of illegal drug use.
"The Narcotics Information Management System keeps records of information on the types of psychoactive substances used last year and people who were administered with them ... This system displays information about the medical facilities that prescribe much higher doses than the average and whom it was prescribed to," Oh Yu-kyung, the minister of MFDS, said during a press conference Thursday.
"On the list of 51 people submitted to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency last year, we found Uhm Hong-sik, which turned out to be Yoo Ah-in during the investigation."
The actor was also investigated on suspicions that he was administered propofol at about 10 different medical facilities, including plastic surgery clinics, in Gangnam and Seocho Districts for non-medical purposes.?
Yoo underwent urine and hair sample tests earlier this month after being questioned by police. Amid the investigation, the actor faced another charge for an additional illegal substance when his urine sample came back positive for marijuana, last week.
Propofol, an intravenous short-acting anesthetic, is classified as illegal when used for any other purpose than surgical treatment. However, it has been abused by many celebrities and prominent business people, because of its easier accessibility and quicker recovery from anesthesia.
The actor debuted in 2004 with the teen series "Sharp," and has won several accolades, starring in various series and films, such as the crime film "Voice of Silence" (2020), the mystery film "Burning" (2018), and the Netflix series "Hellbound" (2021).
Yoo has a lineup of upcoming projects scheduled for release in the coming months, including Netflix's original film "The Match," the film "Highfive," and the platform's series "Goodbye Earth."
