Elite student club leader in South Korea convicted of drug distribution

An elite inter-university student club in South Korea has been rocked by a drug distribution scandal, leading to an 18-month prison sentence for a 32-year-old man identified as Yeom. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction, which stems from Yeom's involvement in purchasing, using, and distributing illegal substances, including LSD, ketamine, ecstasy, and methamphetamine, among club members. This activity reportedly spanned about a year, beginning in late 2022.

Investigators uncovered a network of drug users comprising students and graduates from prominent institutions such as Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University, alongside a medical doctor. Authorities described the group as belonging to one of the country's largest inter-university clubs, with hundreds of members across Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi province. The alleged drug use took place in various settings, including hotels and amusement parks.

Yeom, a Yonsei University alumnus, is accused of cultivating relationships with club members by showcasing a lavish lifestyle, which included stays at high-end hotels, leased luxury cars, and a spacious apartment used as the group's hub. He allegedly used these connections to encourage drug use. The prosecution believes Yeom profited from these drug sales, using the proceeds to fund club activities.

The 18-month sentence was specifically for the drug-related charges, as other indictments were dismissed. Yeom also faced charges of assaulting a former girlfriend within the club and threatening to distribute sexually explicit material of her. These charges were dismissed as they fell outside the prosecutors' investigative scope. The Supreme Court also acquitted him of filing a false criminal complaint related to cryptocurrency laundering allegations. Yeom is involved in other criminal cases, including a finalized four-year sentence for blackmailing another former girlfriend with intimate images in 2024.

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The defendant committed an especially reprehensible crime by threatening the victim with sexually explicit images and videos.