The grandson of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products was recently arrested and indicted for habitually taking drugs and supplying them to others.
As the children of wealthy families, including children of other chaebol companies, are also on the prosecution investigation line as accomplices, there is a prospect that a 'conglomerate third-generation drug scandal' may explode depending on the progress of the investigation.
According to the legal community today (2nd), the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office (Chief Prosecutor Shin Jun-ho) arrested and indicted Mr. Hong (40) on the 15th of last month for possession of cannabis and habitual use (violation of the Narcotics Control Act).
Mr. Hong, the son of the second son of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products, is accused of not only being a 'user' of cannabis, but also smoking it after sharing his cannabis with close acquaintances and international students.
Prosecutors plan to prosecute without detention soon after uncovering the fact that Jo (39), a third-generation conglomerate, also smoked marijuana together.
In addition, it is known that an American member of a three-member singer group and the son-in-law of a former chairman of a financial holding company participated in their crime.
So far, it is known that a total of 9 people have been on the prosecution investigation line.
Prosecutors are expanding their investigation, believing that there may be more drug charges against the children of chaebol families that have not yet been revealed.
The prosecution plans to speed up the investigation and close the case in the middle of this month.
Due to Hong's drug case, the family of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products faced another '3rd generation drug risk' following his granddaughter Hwang Ha-na, who caused controversy for using methamphetamine.
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Hwang was sentenced to 1 year in prison and 2 years of probation at the appeals court in 2019 for taking methamphetamine several times with his ex-lover, singer Park Yu-chun, from 2015 to 2018.
He was caught taking drugs again in 2020, when he was on probation, and in February of this year, the Supreme Court confirmed a sentence of 1 year and 8 months in prison.
Mr. Hong is preparing for the first trial by appointing a former prosecutor's office experienced in drug investigations.
A lawyer at a law firm in charge of Mr. Hong's case (Judicial Research and Training Institute, 26th class) investigated and prosecuted a hip-hop singer for drug use while serving at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutor's Office.
He also investigated allegations of drug use by the son-in-law of then Saenuri Party leader Kim Moo-sung.
Mr. Hong's first trial will be held on the 23rd of this month at the hearing of the 27th part of the Criminal Agreement of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Kim Ok-gon).