Prosecutors have decided not to indict K-pop artist BoA, who is also a creative director at SM Entertainment, over a case of smuggling psychotropic drugs to South Korea from Japan.
Last Dec. 16, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office summoned BoA for allegedly attempting to smuggle psychotropic drugs including zolpidem, used to treat insomnia, through an employee of SM Entertainment’s Japan office and bring them to Korea under the name of an employee of the agency in Korea.
In a statement issued on June 4, SM Entertainment announced that BoA has been cleared by prosecutors.
“Regarding the case related to our artist BoA, which was reported last year, we would like to inform you that the prosecution decided not to indict at the end of May,” it said.
It explained that “our staff delivered the sleeping pills that BoA was prescribed during her activities in Japan to Korea but failed to comply with the licensing procedures for medicine because the staff did not fully understand the relevant laws and regulations.”
“BoA and our staff diligently participated in the investigation, explaining in detail the doctor's prescription, the domestic delivery process, and lack of confirmation of relevant laws and regulations/procedures. Prosecutors took this into account and decided not to prosecute BoA and our staff,” said SM Entertainment.
It added, “Once again, we bow our heads and apologize for causing concern to many people through this incident. In the future, we will be more careful so that our employees can accurately understand and comply with the relevant laws and procedures.”
When it was reported last December that BoA was investigated by the prosecution, SM Entertainment said, "Our employee received the drugs at a local hospital following due procedures but was not aware that it could be a problem in South Korea even though the drugs were prescribed normally abroad,” Yonhap News reported.
Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety classifies zolpidem as a narcotic drug along with propofol.
Last September, the ministry issued standards about zolpidem, warning that its use “must be approached with caution as it can lead to drug abuse and dependence. In addition, zolpidem’s drug use period should not exceed 4 weeks, and zolpidem should not be used on patients under 18.”
SM Entertainment explained last December that BoA underwent a medical exam and was advised by a doctor that she needed enough sleep due to a decrease in growth hormone. BoA took sleeping pills prescribed by the doctor. However, she experienced side effects such as dizziness and digestive problems such as vomiting.
The employee in Japan, as BoA’s representative, got confirmation at a local hospital and went through normal procedures to pick up the medicine. The employee confirmed with a local post office that it was possible to send the medicine from Japan to Korea by attaching documents such as the ingredient list without realizing that even medicine normally prescribed overseas may be problematic in Korea, the agency said.