NoCut News reports that drug crimes skyrocketed 40% in 2007 due to both the rapidly growing number of drug offenses commited by resident foreigners and the general public’s greater exposure to drugs.
As the number of foreigners in Korea increases, so do drug offenses.
In 2007, a 30-year-old graduate student at a school in Pohang, identified by his family name of Park, smuggled in 220g of pot from Thailand. He smoked the gear with foreign classmates of his and foreign English teachers before finally being arrested.
An official at the prosecutors’ office said, “Mr. Park was exposed to pot smoking as he hung out with foreign students studying at the same university, and finally reached the point of acquiring the pot himself.”
According to Supreme Prosecutor’s Office statistics, 10,649 individuals were arrested for drug offenses in 2007, a jump of 38.1% over the previous year.
Narcotics offenses grew by 10.24% from 869 cases to 958 cases, while amphetamine offenses increased 41.85% from 6,007 to 8,521 cases. Pot cases, meanwhile, went up 40.11%, from 835 to 1,170.
The head of the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office’s drug office said amphetamine offenses were skyrocketing, with distribution centering on resident Chinese and Thais. Methamphetamine consumption in particular had increased 5,000%, thanks in large part to easier ingesting methods like capsules and pills.
Methamphetamine, known as a “club drug,” is popular with young people. The source of distribution is presumed to be foreigners residing in Korea.
In the case of pot and hash, the main offenders are foreign language teachers from English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Australia.
And then there are the housewife meth whores.
In Incheon last year, one housewife got busted for taking methamphetamines with a man she met on the Internet and engaging in sexual relations with him. When she was arrested, however, she was already an addict.
According to prosecutors’ data, repeat offenders made up 40.6% of 2007’s drug criminals, with methamphetamine being particularly addictive.
Accordingly, it may start with curiosity, but it ends in addiction, with some addicts even trying to cook their own product. In 2006 and 2007, some average Cheol-soos tried to extract ephedrine — a major ingredient of meth — from cough medicine and other over-the-counter drugs. Moreover, anyone can easily find instruction to cook meth on the Internet.
Experts warn that unprofessional meth producers can create harmful drugs, but netizens instead are competing to post cooking recipes on their blogs and elsewhere.
Drugs are no longer a problem of the dark underworld only, with increasingly diverse drugs reaching the general population through increasingly diverse paths.
An official with the prosecutor’s office said authorities planned to crack down on drug offenses through international cooperation while aggressively pushing rehab treatment.
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Hey, George W. did a lot of drugs in his time and he turned out ok.
I’ve ranted about this before. Comparing drug use among foreign English teachers to that among Koreans will always lead to skewed conclusions, for two reasons.
1.) The demographic differences between foreign English teachers and the general Korean population is huge. This alone means anyone who even tries to compare the two populations ought to be bitch slapped in the name of scientific method.
2.) While I have no solid evidence for this, I’m willing to bet that the conviction rate between foreigners and Koreans is quite different. Convicting a Korean, of anything, is discouraged by the social structure. Convicting a foreigner, of anything, is encouraged by public opinion.
Given these two facts, it’s little wonder that soft drug use is connected to English teachers in the minds of Koreans. I think that’s kinda the way they all want it.
What is rehab for housewife meth whores? Does it involve time on an island penal colony close to international shipping lanes, earning valuable foreign currency for the homeland?
This isn’t a news story, it’s a diversion. Besides…What about alcoholism?
220 grams? That’s a lot of hooter. I wonder how he smuggled it in.
4. Obviously hooped it in his bumhole.
From the OP: “Moreover, anyone can easily find instruction to cook meth on the Internet.” EASILY?!? I don’t know where you get your instructions but tell me cause I’ve got a ton of ephedrine just waiting to be cooked up… mmmm, homemade drugs…
Lets get high! By the way, has anyone seen the latest Harold and Kumar movie?
That assumption is more likely from closer sources that they would be reluctant to name: http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/.....d-country/
Yep, it’s all the foreigners fault!
Meanwhile, soju is still working miracles in Korea!
A Korean friend told me Korea used to have a lot of hemp plants growing wild, and he and some pals (this was back in the ’80s) tried smoking it, only to get nasty headaches instead of a buzz.
I wonder what the yangbans put in those long pipes of theirs….
it’s only the white guys who complain that there ain’t enough marijuana in Korea.
you miss it like you miss mexican food, don’t you?
aw, you poor thing.
it’s not good for you. Uncle Korea will never legalize it, and he’ll kick your ass if you use it in Korea.
i think you’ll be challenged to prove that legalized drug use decreases alcohol use or the consequences of overuse.
“it’s only the white guys who complain that there ain’t enough marijuana in Korea.”
That’s simply racist.
You can definitely establish correlation. Whether or not there is causation is a different story. However, I will side this alongside with the causation purported here with a few caveats.
Modern illegal drug trades is, I’m afraid, a side effect of interactions with foreign nations and nationals. I am not saying that foreigners are evil or something like that. It is simply a macroscopic result that occurs with increased social interaction with non-traditional neighbors.
Koreans are just as vulnerable to narcotics as any other ethnicity, but the source of narcotics come from outside of Korea most of the time (Korea is not a renowned center for illegal narcotics production. Well, North Korea is, but that’s another can of worms). The sources of illegal narcotics find their outlets into Korea through the most viable channels: expats from the same nation. Dealers maintain connection and a market with no major local producer means a high profit margin for both sides.
Koreans have done drugs in the past and the modern day drug busts are working on a decades old problem. Simply blaming foreigners is not the answer, and from reading what the official said, if they follow it wholeheartedly, they do not seem to follow blind rhetoric but is composing the best and most effective solution: more international cooperation. So I find this piece to be a very good “light at the end of the tunnel” sort of article, since it does hint at the prosecutor’s office to pursue an obvious, but still very surprising given the circumstances, answer.
11. WJK, you channeling the spirit of Pawi now?
Wow, why isn’t there anyone here questioning the legitimacy of the state throwing people into jail for taking drugs? Putting a person into jail with criminals, many of whom are violent, is a much greater crime than taking some substance to get high.
I agree.
By the way, while WJK likes to brag about how tough Uncle Korea is there are teenage girls taking ecstasy in Hongdae right now. And they ain’t white. Well, some of them are.
what bar do the meth whore go to and/ or how can I get one D_D
(I apologize for the lowness of that.)
#6. Here is a picture of three ounces of pot, albeit wrapped up in joints.
http://www.justice.gov/dea/ong.....ijuana.jpg
The amount was over double this. He’d want to have one hell of a bumhole to fit it all in.
aaronm, that seems to be an adequate supply of marijuana to me. Gotta give the Korean guy some credit though – he really knows how to smoke the peace pipe with his English teachers
shakuhachi (#16), This toopic has come up on the M-Hole several times before, and several of us have expressed libertarian views on it at length, quite in agreement with what you say. Others, some of our dear Neo-Cons, have expressed opposing pro-state-repression views — but well, that’s the internet…
it’s only the yellow guys who complain that there ain’t enough prostitutes in America.
you miss it like you miss korean food, don’t you?
aw, you poor thing.
it’s not good for you. Uncle Sam will never legalize it, and he’ll kick your ass if you do it in America.
#21, whilst I have libertarian views on the subject, what the Korean people choose as their drug laws is not up to me. It’s illegal here and therefor I do not use it.
sanshinseon, lets agree to agree. I think we can also agree that the state needs to be repressed
#23, true, following the laws in a foreign nation is just good manners. On the other hand, speaking out against harmful laws (even if it is just commenting on a blog) will ultimately to be to benefit of all.
the new pawi?
too much work. Not interested.
wjk is not a hypocrite. Unlike you, I do not have hpv, herpes, etc.
Apologies to any who were offended.
Besides from some banana gyopos, it is the foreigner who tries to change Korea into a marijuana friendly nation. And most of you are, white.
again, wjk is not a hypocrite. No marijuana, ever. I supposed I inhaled some, because I was in the company of users, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you, what it even felt like. 2nd hand smoking. US gyopos, though, usually have done substantial marijuana.
there are even 45 year old adjushi chul soo’s in LA, enamored with weed.
anyone who believes that pot has been introduced here solely by English teachers is delusional. Try spending a lot of time in the country side: not only is it relatively easy to find, but quite a few of the aged smoke it. That’s the main difference: it’s considered more of a thing for old people here, to help with the arthritis and rheumatism, instead of for youngins to get their freak on.
Also remember it was made illegal only in 1975, supposedly in response to the large number of youth and entertainers that were using it having been influenced by the degeneracy of western hippie culture. Never mind that it had been here for hundreds of years and largely used as a medicine.
The fact remains: the vast majority of drug users in South Korea (probably 98-99% of them) are South Koreans.
#23,
Exactly.
Although many Koreans would probably agree that it should be legalized, it remains illegal and the sentences for possession are stiff.
PS. You’d think Korean Oriental doctors would be lobbying the government for the right to prescribe marijuana to their patients.
every english teacher is a drug addicted, sex crazed for korea p—y maniac!
at least by korean media standards
#29, While recreational use is very illegal, Medical Marijuana is legal in Korea. Its grown on Jeju (I’ve heard) and prescribed to people with terminal diseases.
the fact remains,
1/ most of you are white
2/ most of you use marijuana for recreation, and recreation alone.
3/ most of you don’t even have a terminal illness. Far from it.
4/ some of you are indeed English teachers. Teacha?
5/ some of you indeed have tried to “open the minds” of local Koreans, talking up marijuana as a wonder drug good for all conditions ! Yak-jang-sa hal lae yo? Manbyung tongchi yak !
6/ no study has proven marijuana is essential in the treatment and management of terminal illnesses. It’s just an available option, available in the US formulary, and others.
7/ You seem to have an extra sensitive THC radar. “I heard it’s in jeju !, Let’s go to jeju !” ” That countryside weed looks like weed !”
degenerates.
Fact remains, marijuana usage is not as high as 40% as in other countries, where you come from. Stop fudging it with bullshit, like vast majority are Korean users.
You’re the ones making headlines, mailing yourself weed, while claiming it’s not addictive.
Thus, one can only conclude that foreigners do come to Korea and encourage illicit drug use.
Can’t deny it.
#29,
No, really? How is it administered? I’m guessing it’s in pills or transdermal patches.
Only terminally ill patients?
What about debilitating diseases?
it would be a real shame to see crystal meth become popular in korea. that’s a truly devastating drug which is fairly easy to make. not only do your teeth fall out and open sores appear on your body, but there is a high migration rate from powder to injection thus increasing hepatitis and hiv. anyone who’s been downtown vancouver can attest to just how debilitating it is. there are areas there that remind me of night of the living dead. it has also destroyed pockets of youth throughout the midwest U.S. let’s hope that the government is able to put their efforts to stopping meth use before it spreads.
When the hell did meth become a party drug? Meth, along with heroine, are two drugs that even druggies are too scared to try over here.
When I was volunteering at the angiology dept, a meth patient came in with collapsed rib cage, shattered pelvis, internal bleeding including lung, and broken legs that basically looked like snapped chopsticks. She fell asleep on the middle of the street after doing meth, and couple of cars ran over her. I guess meth was still working in her, because she tried to get up and out of the stretcher in that condition.
During the time iv line was established (because her vein was so f*cked up, angiology had to do it), her lungs cleaned up of blood using emergency laparoscopic procedure, and the transportation to the MICU, she had about 6 cardiac arrests. And as the angio team left her to MICU people… ‘beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep’
Oh, and meth mouth is one of the most horrifying dental condition on earth.
South Korea used to be a major exporter of meth and still produces it.
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1.....209730.pdf
#32,
1) How would you know and what’s that got to do with anything? Oh, Asians don’t smoke pot? In Canada, most growth ops are run or owned by Asians.
2) That’s because patients haven’t had the right to choose it for years. Besides, tobacco and alcohol are drugs that are probably never used for medical purposes, and yet they are readily available.
3) Marijuana helps non-terminal diseases, too. You’re lack of empathy for other’s suffering is astounding.
4) I’m a business owner.
5) Hate to be making an appeal to authority, but I am a biochemist. I never talk out of my ass when it comes to science.
6) Essential? Nobody claims it is. It’s a matter of choice, really. Patients should have the right to choose any treatment that has been shown to be beneficial to them.
7) ‘Let’s go to Cheju?’ You said it first, not me. I have no desire to go to Cheju.
Fact is, nearly all drug users in Korea are Koreans.
Nice try.
“not only do your teeth fall out and open sores appear on your body”
The teeth falling out has little to do with the drug itself. Since the reagents that are used to produce meth are now hard to get by, people who cook meth have turned to household chemicals, such as drain cleaner, to produce it. This produces a very impure form of meth, one which has impurities that abide to the users teeth when it is smoked. Just imagine the affect of having drain cleaner stuck to your teeth.
#35,
Yeah, it inhibits pain by increasing the production of dopamine and norepinephrine.
There are drain cleaners that are pure sodium hydroxide. Besides, any reagent you can acquire OTC can be purified. It’s entirely due to stupidity/lack of chemistry skills. I’ve met people who used meth heavily but brushed their teeth 3x a day and flossed. They were emaciated as hell, but their teeth were fine.
I agree Bum, Meth’s heavy. It’s not just the physical effects, when people start mainlining it they often lapse into psychosis and never come out. I interviewed a guy with amphetamine psychosis once and he was so sedated he could barely talk. Told me how he was sent to prison and used to smash every light bulb/mirror he saw because he would freak out thinking there were cameras behind them watching him. Also used to see ghosts everywhere.
I’ve done my fair share of “recreational” drugs, but even so I hope Korea keeps a pretty firm hand on the way they deal with them – including pot, which I think is more harmful than people admit. One thing I like about this country is that there isn’t so many drugs around.
i suppose I should discuss the hypocrisy of the US African American community in their very high use of illegal marijuana for recreation purposes and self identification as Christians. Precious few use it for medical reasons. The main goal is always, to get high.
But, the white guy is a more politically acceptable target, because the white guy says so.
Remember, it is racist not to vote for Barack Obama. The white guy says so.
Don’t matter if you correctly id him as a socialist on the scale of Mao Zedong.
Absolutely nothing wrong with people teaching.
Something wrong with adults teaching children, who advocate illicit drug use.
It’s not the old man who’s giving the marijuana dealer in Canada a Mercedes. It’s the young man getting high.
“Mr. Park was exposed to pot smoking as he hung out with foreign students studying at the same university, and finally reached the point of acquiring the pot himself.”
Poor Mr. Park, so feeble minded that he fell prey to the over-powering influence of the evil foreigner. Next he will be easily swayed into attending candle light vigils by any group wishing to manipulate the mindless masses to support their own cause.
Let us hope somewhere along the way he will be able to think for himself, perhaps after he turns 30 and moves out of his mommy’s house.
I hope to hear about poor Mr. Smith who, before coming to Korea to help teach children, drank ony ocassionally and in moderation, but because of the pressures of Korean society, and the drinking culture, became an alcoholic. Of course, he was excused ( he had a hard life )and functioned quite well until he returned to his home country, where he was immediately sent to detox and was treated for alcohol poisoning.
WJK, out of curiosity, have you ever smoked pot?
#42: “i suppose I should discuss the hypocrisy of the US African American community in their very high use of illegal marijuana for recreation purposes and self identification as Christians.”
It’s only hypocrisy if the same person is an illegal marijuana recreational user AND self-identifies as a Christian. If they aren’t the same person, it’s not a hypocrisy.
BTW- drugs are a symptom not the disease
So…you smoke cigarettes to calm your nerves…drink coffee to wake up in the morning…perhaps a chocolate bar for a snack to pump up before lunch…have a stiff scotch to unwind after work…eat a bit too much “comfort food” because it helps you feel better about yourself…
Everything is a poison, it is just the dose that differs. Don’t be too sanctimonious. We all have our crutch.
#42,
I’m neither white nor black and I still think you’re racist.
“You’re the ones making headlines, mailing yourself weed”
Mr. Park from Pohang, the one in the story linked at the top of the thread, is Korean.
“There are drain cleaners that are pure sodium hydroxide. Besides, any reagent you can acquire OTC can be purified. It’s entirely due to stupidity/lack of chemistry skills.”
…Yes, but before you even mention that you need to consider the main reason why people produce an impure product:
They simply don’t give a fuck. All they care about is making money or getting high.
“Thus, one can only conclude that foreigners do come to Korea and encourage illicit drug use.”
The only foreigners that encourage Koreans to do drugs are the ones that end up in jail. Others keep their mouths shut, stay away from Koreans and stay out of the clink. Anway, your opinions are pretty obnoxious.
And where in the Bible exactly does it say that smoking weed is a sin?
You know what’s worse than foreigners who do drugs in Korea? Kyopos who do drugs in Korea.
Why? Kyopos can network and spread drug use faster since they know the language and can get contacts much faster than the average foreigner who’s got the language barrier.
I love how everybody is throwing around all these “facts” that have no credibility or if they do, the author fails to source it. And you should never rag on anything until after you try it, especially weed. I mean, its your choice if you want to listen to all that anti-drug drivel and choose not to try it but by all means don’t become one of those annoying people who just recite all that crap like a broken record.
And no, drug use is not ethnically inclined, it is a cultural thing. By saying “white” people have caused this problem is both ignorant and racist.
And for the record, illicit drug users are people to, so don’t go around with a holier than thou attitude just because you get your kicks from legal drugs like alcohol and prescription medication.
And remember kids, always think for yourself no matter what they say or do to you.
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