Cannabis in South Korea

Cannabis (Hangul: 대마, Hanja: 大麻) in South Korea is illegal for use as a recreational drug and as a medicine, but has been cultivated as industrial hemp for fabrics since 3000 BCE.

While cannabis use has arisen in South Korea since the 1970s, it remains far less popular than chemical drugs such as methamphetamine; of 11,916 people arrested for drug crimes in 2015, only 1/100 were for cannabis-based drugs.[1]

History

Early history

Cannabis was an important crop in ancient Korea, with samples of hempen fabric discovered dating back as early as 3000 BCE.[2] The traditional sambe cloth, an ivory colored fabric, is made from hemp.[1] In addition to its use as fabric, the hemp seed was thought to have medicinal qualities such as a laxative.[3]

Modern history

Following the Rhee Syngman administration's 1957 Narcotics Act, "Indian Marijuana", along with poppies, opium, and cocaine, was labelled a forbidden narcotic.[4] There is speculation that this act was heavily encouraged by the U.S. Treasury Department's Federal Bureau of Narcotic's first commander Harry Anslinger, who had long been advocating for its prohibition.[5] Importantly, the 1957 act only outlawed Indian-grown marijuana, allowing the Korean market of cannabis growth to flourish.[6]

In the 1960s, Korean cannabis usage rose dramatically with the influence of hippie culture diffusing outwards from U.S. army bases in Korea. Using the "happy smoke" started to symbolize rebelliousness, and many popular singers of the time began smoking the herb.[7]

In the 1970s, amid its associations with insurgent youth culture abroad, cannabis was banned under the Cannabis Control Act of 1976.[8]

Industrial hemp

Cannabis has been a source of fabric for Korea since ancient times, and as recently as the 1930s hemp was grown in every province of Korea, particularly in the south where it grew best. In the late 1950s, 9,000 hectares of hemp were cultivated in South Korea.[9]

Economy

A Korea Times article of 2014 noted that despite risks of a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won ($48,000), cannabis could be easily bought in South Korea by contacting dealers on the internet. Its journalist noted that according to dealers, cannabis sold for US$30-50 per gram.[10]

Early Pop Stars

In the pursuit of scapegoats to increase the popularity of his 1976 Cannabis Control Act, South Korean President Park Chung-hee turned his gaze inwards, towards pop entertainers performing at U.S. army bases, a hotbed of marijuana usage.[11] In the winter of 1975, Park Chung-hee led a government crackdown on marijuana usage, resulting in the arrest of over 50 well known South Korean entertainers. Among them was the rock singer Shin Jung-hyeon, defamed in the media following his arrest as the "daemacho ringleader."[12] He was imprisoned for four months following his arrest.[13]

K-Pop

A number of high profile K-Pop stars have been prosecuted for the recreational use of marijuana. Notable entertainers arrested for cannabis usage include Kim Kye-Hoon, better known by his rap name, Crown J, singer-songwriter Psy, and Big Bang's T.O.P.[14] The celebrities received a variety of sentences, with prison time ranging from 25 days to 10 months.[15][16]

Along with legal action, societal backlash against the disgraced stars is often swift and serious. After T.O.P. was arrested for possession and usage of marijuana, his record label YG Entertainment became widely referred to as Yak Guk (Hangul: 약국) Entertainment, which translates to "the drugstore."[17] With an average of 40 months following a drug related scandal for a Korean entertainer to return to the stage, K-Pop stars arrested for using cannabis have a difficult time regaining their lost stardom.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 Singh, Emily (2016-10-21). "Drugs in South Korea: A Silent Crisis". Koreaexpose.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  2. ↑ Chris Duvall (15 November 2014). Cannabis. Reaktion Books. pp. 30–. ISBN 978-1-78023-386-4.
  3. ↑ "Marijuana Taboo in the "Drug-Free" Nation". Korea Exposé. 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  4. ↑ "Marijuana Taboo in the "Drug-Free" Nation". Korea Exposé. 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  5. ↑ "Marijuana Taboo in the "Drug-Free" Nation". Korea Exposé. 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  6. ↑ "Marijuana Taboo in the "Drug-Free" Nation". Korea Exposé. 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  7. ↑ "Marijuana Taboo in the "Drug-Free" Nation". Korea Exposé. 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  8. ↑ Korea News Review. Korea Herald, Incorporated. 1988. p. 44.
  9. ↑ Daniel Tudor; James Pearson (14 April 2015). North Korea Confidential: Private Markets, Fashion Trends, Prison Camps, Dissenters and Defectors. Tuttle Publishing. pp. 81–. ISBN 978-1-4629-1512-5.
  10. ↑ Name *. "Is Korea becoming a pot haven? – The Korea Times". Koreatimesus.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  11. ↑ "Marijuana Taboo in the "Drug-Free" Nation". Korea Exposé. 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  12. ↑ "Marijuana Taboo in the "Drug-Free" Nation". Korea Exposé. 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  13. ↑ "Marijuana Taboo in the "Drug-Free" Nation". Korea Exposé. 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  14. ↑ "Singer Crown J caught for smoking marijuana". koreatimes. 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  15. ↑ Herald, The Korea (2017-07-20). "Court sentences Big Bang's T.O.P to 10 months prison, 2 years suspended". Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  16. ↑ "PSY Opens Up About Alcohol Use: If I'm Happy, I'm Drinking, If I'm Sad, I'm Drinking". E! News. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  17. ↑ "A Short History of Marijuana in South Korea". seoulbeats. 2017-06-28. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  18. ↑ "Singer Crown J caught for smoking marijuana". koreatimes. 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2018-03-20.

Further reading

  • Strother, Jason (February 19, 2013). "Korea's forgotten high times". Yonhap News. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  • Cho, Byung In (March 2004). Drug Control Policy in Korea. The International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
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