Actor Yoo Ah In (real name: Uhm Hong-sik), who is suspected of using illegal drugs, refused to attend the second round of questioning as reporters gathered.
Yoo Ah In ‘s representatives stated that they refused to attend due to the violation of the non-disclosure agreement, which was essentially turned into a public hearing.
Yoo Ah In was scheduled to attend the second round of questioning at the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency at 10 a.m. on the 11th, but did not show up as expected.
Media outlets reported that he came to the vicinity of the narcotics investigation division to attend, but when more than 50 reporters, including photo and video journalists, gathered, his lawyer suggested he should not attend, and they left.
When the issue became controversial, Yoo Ah In’s lawyer explained the situation and defended his client as media outlets began to report he left due to the reporters swarming the place, he said, “The non-disclosure hearing agreed upon with the police was disclosed,” and explained the reason for not attending.
The law firm said, “We received a request to attend from the narcotics investigation division last week and requested a private hearing, which the police agreed to, but news reports came out the day before the investigation. When we asked the police, they said they had not disclosed the date and would proceed privately as planned. However, after checking the content of the news report and the situation on site, it was clear that the attendance schedule had been made public. Yoo Ah In requested that he attend the investigation through another route in accordance with the principle of a private summons, but the police did not accept it.”
They also expressed concern that “even the additional negotiation process between the police and the lawyer is being reported in real-time, and distorted reports are being broadcast as if the actor refused to attend simply because of the reporters.”
Yoo Ah In, who had postponed the investigation date that was coordinated privately even during the first investigation in March, expressed his objection by postponing the investigation once again when the investigation date was announced. Yoo was scheduled to attend the investigation at the police station on March 24th, but requested a change because it was practically disclosed beforehand, which violated the regulations. Three days later, he visited the police station.
Yoo Ah In is expected to visit the Narcotics Investigation Department again soon to undergo investigation. The police have notified him of the new attendance date, but it has not been confirmed yet. There are also concerns that the two refusals to attend the police station could lead to disadvantages. The police are scheduled to decide whether to detain him after the second investigation.
Source: (A)
