Big Bang’s T.O.P has been formally indicted without detention, according to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. Because the KPop artist is currently under his military enlistment, his indictment for marijuana use charges also means he will be suspended from service.
According to a Koreaboo report, T.O.P will be relieved from duty, which he is currently serving with the Seoul Metropolitan Police.
T.O.P Hospitalized In Apparent Overdose
According to a Korea Herald report, a day after his indictment, the artist was rushed to the hospital after he was discovered unconscious. He is currently being treated in an intensive care unit of a hospital in Seoul. The report cited that the KPop artist overdosed on tranquilizers.
The report also says that the artist needs to enlist again, as his currently military enlistment will stop. T.O.P, who is also known as Choi Seung Hyun, started his service on February 9, putting a temporary hold on his career. All Korean males need to complete two years of enlisted military service, with no exceptions.
So far, he was already into 3 months of his service when reports about his marijuana use on several occasions came out. His suspension also means he forfeits the number of months he already rendered.
According to another report in NextShark, the police investigated him after a female KPop trainee revealed that she had smoked the illegal drug with him on several occasions. Police confirmed recently that the Big Bang member tested positive for the substance after a hair test. He also issued a handwritten apology to his fans and the public after the news broke.
No Detention Yet, But May Face 5 Year Jail Time
While he is out of military service, he awaits to hear the decision on his case. In Korea, the standard punishment for marijuana use is 5 years jail time or a fine of 50 million won or about 44,560 US dollars.
T.O.P is not the only KPop artist embroiled in drug charges, but no one has ever been prosecuted. According to a NextShark report, the artist may very well face the possibility of jail time this time around.
In the meantime, Big Bang leader G-Dragon and other members of the group are dealing with the possible effect of this news. In a Strait Times report, G-Dragon apologized to fans during a fan meet in Osaka, Japan recently.