A man in his 30s driving a Bentley was arrested in Seoul's Yongsan District on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.
According to Seoul Economic Daily, the Yongsan Police Station arrested the man, identified only as A, at 3:14 a.m. on November 28 on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act. Police are currently investigating the case.
Officers responded to a report of "a vehicle repeatedly stopping and starting while failing to stay in its lane." A was not intoxicated but was arrested after refusing an on-site drug test.
Police discovered a drug kit resembling a liquid vape device inside the vehicle. Investigators are determining whether the substance is a prohibited narcotic and tracing its origin.
The arrest came just three days after the Banpo Bridge Porsche crash incident, fueling criticism of inadequate oversight of drug misuse.
On November 25, a woman in her 30s, identified as B, was arrested after crashing her Porsche off Banpo Bridge while under the influence of drugs. Police found propofol injections, sedative anesthetics, and disposable syringes in her vehicle. B was indicted on December 6 on charges including violation of the Narcotics Control Act, drug-impaired driving, and causing injury through dangerous driving.
Drug-related crimes are surging nationwide. The National Police Agency reported 6,648 drug offenders were apprehended between August 2024 and January 2025, with 1,244 detained.
Online drug crimes are rising particularly sharply. Last year, 3,020 offenders—40% of the total—were arrested, predominantly among those in their teens through 30s. This marks a significant increase from the previous 20-30% share.
Police plan to intensify crackdowns on drug offenses in the first half of this year, with particular focus on the supply and administration of medical narcotics including propofol.
"Drugs are increasingly penetrating our daily lives across borders," said Park Sung-joo, head of the National Investigation Headquarters. "We will mobilize all police resources to combat drug crimes."
