Ilhoon's First Hearing: Ex-BTOB Member Pleaded Guilty of Using Marijuana
On April 22, 2020, the initial hearing of a former BTOB member, Ilhoon, indicted of drug use, was heard at Seoul Central District Court, where he confessed marijuana usage.
At the time of the proceedings, Ilhoon's legal representative said that the accused acknowledges all charges and is dwelling on his lawbreakings. Ilhoon, along with the other defendants, apologized when given a chance to speak.
They were brought to trial for suspicions of buying and smoking 826 grams of marijuana along with using approximately 130 million won throughout 161 occasions from July 5, 2016, to January 9, 2019. His second trial is slated for May 20 of this year.
It was last reported that traces of the drug were discovered through a hair follicle test. Also, it was found out that he used cryptocurrency to pay for his purchase to steer clear of being caught. He deposited money on an acquaintance's account who converted it into a virtual currency.
Last May, Ilhoon enlisted in the military, which is a month prior to his prosecution of the charges. Currently, the 26-year-old former BTOB member serves as a public service worker. He joined BTOB in 2012, and in December 2020, CUBE Entertainment disclosed Ilhoon's disengagement from the group.
Cube Entertainment said, "Jung Ilhoon is deeply reflecting on his actions of breaking the trust of many fans and causing them to feel disappointment. Respecting his personal opinion to no longer cause harm to the group, it was decided that Jung Ilhoon will withdraw from the group as of today."
Prior to this, Korean fans on the DC Inside's BTOB gallery issued an official statement requesting the withdrawal of Ilhoon from the said group.
According to Korea's Law, smoking marijuana is indictable by imprisonment along with labor up to five years. The punishment also comes with a fine of up to 50 million won, which is equivalent to $45,075.
