[UPDATE] Yang Hyun Suk Releases Statement Regarding 2NE1 Park Bom's 2010 Drug Incident

[UPDATE 07.01.14]

YG Entertainment’s Yang Hyun Suk released a personal statement regarding the recent breakout on various Korean news outlets about 2NE1 member Park Bom having attempted to bring amphetamines to Korea.

When asked why he is releasing a personal statement rather than an official one from YG Entertainment, Yang Hyun Suk explained that it is something that only he was told by Park Bom’s parents four years ago at the time of the incident, and that it was something unknown to everyone at YG Entertainment, including the other 2NE1 members.

Yang Hyun Suk said, “As fans may already know, 2NE1’s Park Bom grew up in the United States before her debut and had dreams of becoming a soccer player. During one soccer match, she witnessed the death of a teammate on the field, after which she fell in a slump, with the extreme trauma and the depression that followed. For several years afterward, she received counseling and treatment, taking medication prescribed to her by a university hospital in the States.

After that incident, Park Bom was unable to continue soccer, and that was when she first came to Korea to audition for YG. I remember that day vividly. The reason I remember her from among the many auditions is that she said, ‘If it’s not with YG I won’t become a singer.’

She didn’t make the first audition, and she came back the next year, where she was eliminated again. After three years of public auditions, she finally finished in first place, and because of that, I have a special memory of her.

The reason why I’m telling you all of this is because the first time I saw Park Bom was 11 years ago. However, it was only four years ago, after speaking with her father, that I found out of her old dreams of becoming a soccer player or of her traumatic experience as a child. As much as this is something even her fellow 2NE1 members did not know, that’s how much I didn’t want to put Park Bom through the recollection of those memories again.

While it’s become a situation where I have no choice but to reveal this, Park Bom had, until four years ago, continuously taken medication prescribed to her by an American university hospital. Due to a busy schedule, she was unable to return to the States for some time, and in the process of having her mother and grandmother receive the medications through post for her, it was stopped at customs, as amphetamines are banned in Korea.

Thankfully, the hospital provided medical records and prescriptions for the investigation, and the case was wrapped up with no further issues.

2NE1 is busy with their world tour schedule right now, and I hadn’t seen Park Bom in a while. But last night, I saw Park Bom crying all night, because of the reports that were released, and was conflicted on whether to talk about something from her past that Park Bom wouldn’t want to bring up.

I sincerely apologize for the concern that this has caused.

We will be back soon with more positive news. Thank you.

2014. 07. 01

Sincerely,

Yang Hyun Suk

Source: yg-life

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[Original text]

It has been revealed that 2NE1 member Park Bom had previously been caught allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into Korea.

In a report by KBS News, according to prosecutors on June 30, Park Bom attempted to bring approximately 80 pills of amphetamines into Korea from the United States via international post on October 12 of 2010, and the singer was found out while passing through customs at Incheon International Airport. However, according to the report, her case was suspended, as amphetamines can be given as a prescription in the United States, and there was an instance of Park Bom being prescribed the drug while in the U.S.

Amphetamines are strong central nervous system stimulants that are sometimes used to treat conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or narcolepsy. While they are used for medicinal purposes, they also pose a risk of dependency when abused, and distribution of the drug is banned in Korea.

Park Bom’s agency YG Entertainment has stated that they will soon be releasing an official statement.

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