Jung Il-hoon, a former member of K-pop boy band BTOB, has admitted to all charges of buying and using marijuana.
Ilhoon attended the first trial on April 22 for his drug case in which he is accused of violating Korea’s Narcotics Control Act for marijuana use.
The prosecution charged that Ilhoon conspired with six other defendants and bought and smoked 826 grams of marijuana for two and a half years between July 5, 2016 and Jan. 9, 2019.
They spent 130 million won (about $116,420) for the illegal drugs, remitting the money 161 times to a drug dealer.
Ilhoon, who is currently fulfilling his military service as a social service agent, appeared in court with a lawyer.
"The defendant has acknowledged all the facts of the prosecution and is reflecting on his wrongdoing," said his lawyer.
"I am sincerely reflecting on it. I’m very sorry,” Ilhoon said at the trial held at the Seoul Central District Court. His second trial is scheduled to be held on May 20.
Under Korea’s law, smoking marijuana is punishable by imprisonment with labor up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won (about $45,075).
Last December, Korean broadcasting network Channel A reported that Ilhoon was investigated by the police for marijuana use and the drug was detected in his hair. It said that to avoid detection, Ilhoon used cryptocurrency to buy marijuana. He deposited cash in an account of an acquaintance who converted it to cryptocurrency to buy marijuana.
Ilhoon enlisted in the military on May 28 last year and according to the news report, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency sent the drug complaint of Ilhoon and his accomplices to the prosecution last July.
Ilhoon debuted in BTOB in 2012 and last Dec. 31, Ilhoon left BTOB due to the marijuana scandal.
“Jung Ilhoon is deeply reflecting on his actions of breaking the trust of many fans and causing them to feel disappointment. Respecting his personal opinion to no longer cause harm to the group, it was decided that Jung Ilhoon will withdraw from the group as of today,” announced Cube Entertainment, SBS News reported.
Before this, Korean fans on the BTOB gallery on the community website DC Inside issued an official statement calling for Ilhoon’s removal from the group.