Shin Hyun Joon Responds To Former Manager's Request For Reinvestigation Into Past Drug Use Allegations

The dispute between Shin Hyun Joon and his former manager, Kim Gwang Seob, continues.

On July 9, Kim Gwang Seob, former manager of Shin Hyun Joon and former director of his current agency, HJ Film, gave an interview in which he alleged that he had been mistreated by the actor for 13 years. He claimed that during this time he had been underpaid, rudely spoken to, forced to take care of Shin Hyun Joon’s mother, and refused a formal contract. Shin Hyun Joon and HJ Film released a statement denying these claims.

On July 13, Kim Gwang Seob released a series of text messages sent between him and Shin Hyun Joon. In response, Shin Hyun Joon and HJ Film stated that these messages had been maliciously edited and announced that they would be taking legal action.

Also on July 13, Kim Gwang Seob submitted a written accusation to the Seoul Gangnam Police Station, asking them to reinvestigate a claim that Shin Hyun Joon took Propofol illegally in 2010.

According to a report, the written accusation states that in 2010, the actor was ordered to appear in an investigation into excessive Propofol use. Kim claimed that he and Shin Hyun Joon met with the investigator in a café. The investigator for the prosecution showed Shin Hyun Joon the evidence of Propofol injection in his medical record, and Shin Hyun Joon said that he sometimes received the drug as a treatment for his back pain. The investigator requested a medical certificate. Kim claimed that he did not know what happened after that. In his written accusation, Kim asked for a reinvestigation into how Shin Hyun Joon was investigated at the time and how the investigation had ended.

Propofol is used as a sleep inducer and anesthetic and is classified as a psychoactive drug in South Korea, which makes it illegal to use for anything other than surgical procedures.

On July 14, in an interview with OSEN, Shin Hyun Joon said, “I’ve been quietly making a living in the entertainment industry, but recently I’ve been in so much pain. I’m in a situation in which I have to be careful about everything. I still don’t know why [Kim Gwang Seob] is being like this. The public has a lot to be confused and exhausted about, but every day the issues that should be between the two of us are exploding into the public eye. I am especially hurt because he can call me if he is upset about something. I feel discouraged.”

In response to the contents of the written accusation, Shin Hyun Joon said, “I can speak precisely about that. Lee Gwan Yong [his current manager and the current director of HJ Film] was there too. I had a bad back, so I received a diagnosis and treatment from a hospital that Kim Gwang Seob recommended. Afterward, the hospital came under investigation from the prosecution, so I was contacted as a patient on their medical record. I didn’t meet the investigator at a police station but at a café in the Apgujeong neighborhood. I told the investigator the truth and the investigation ended with the acknowledgement that the injections were for the goal of proper treatment.”

He continued, “He’s trying to dig up old dirt. I don’t know why he’s being like this. He’s someone whom I trusted, so the feeling of betrayal is strong. I don’t know why he’s trying to nitpick like this. We were friends for a long time, and I still have happy memories from the time we spent together. He had a hard time because he didn’t have success with his investments. After that, he cut off contact. I heard a rumor that he’d become a Buddhist monk, so I looked for him at the temple. For my own part, I tried to find my old friend.”

The actor concluded, “I have no idea what he’ll dig up next. Instead of being anxious, I’m just discouraged. I can only regret the years we spent together as friends.”

A source from the drugs squad at the Gangnam Police Station stated, “It is true that we have received a written accusation about a claim of illegal Propofol use regarding Shin Hyun Joon. At this stage, we have processed the civil complaint. As the complaint states that an investigation had taken place at the time, we will have to check the truth of that. If it is a case from 2010, there is also the statute of limitations to consider.” Most drug cases in South Korea have a statute of limitations of seven years.

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