Hwang Hana, 37, the granddaughter of Namyang Dairy’s founder and former girlfriend of JYJ member Park Yoochun, has reportedly named celebrities during her drug investigation, sparking concerns of a fresh scandal in the entertainment industry.
On the 20th, the Anyang branch of the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office formally charged Hwang Hana with violating the Narcotics Control Act.
Hwang is accused of actively encouraging two acquaintances, identified as A and B, to use methamphetamine and personally administering the drug to them in a Seoul Gangnam apartment in July 2023.
Hwang fled to Thailand the day after police raided one of her accomplices. She subsequently entered Cambodia illegally, despite her passport being invalidated and a red notice issued against her. After a period in hiding, she eventually expressed her willingness to surrender and was arrested on a flight at Phnom Penh’s Ta Cho International Airport.
Prosecutors reportedly discovered that Hwang attempted to persuade A and others to provide favorable testimony.
Hwang, through her lawyer, submitted recanted statements and recordings from accomplices. However, investigations revealed these to be false. Accomplice B further claimed to have received retaliatory communications from Hwang.
Hwang denies drug use, claiming she was merely present at the scene.
Journalist Oh Hyuk-jin, who has covered Hwang’s case, revealed on his YouTube channel ‘Jiritjirit’ that Hwang named celebrities during the investigation.
Oh stated, “Police have not specified conclusive evidence but appear to have some certainty regarding the timing and location of drug use.”
He added, “As far as I know, she mentioned the names of several male and female celebrities to authorities, seemingly in an attempt to reduce her sentence, leading her to testify against those for whom there is definite proof of crime.”
Should Hwang’s testimony be confirmed, the entertainment industry could face another significant drug scandal.
Hwang was previously convicted in 2019 for using methamphetamine with her former partner Park Yoochun and others at her Seoul home between May and September 2015. She received a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.
She was subsequently sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison for further drug use during her probation period. Before voluntarily returning to Korea, Hwang reportedly led a lavish lifestyle in Thailand and Cambodia, where she also gave birth.
