Exposure of student ¡®drug ring¡¯ sparks Korean soul-searching

The arrest of a group of students from some of South Korea¡¯s most prestigious universities for suspected possession and trafficking of illegal drugs has sparked debate about substance abuse on campuses in a country proud of its drug-free reputation.?

According to?, ¡°dozens¡± of university students were arrested at 바카라사이트 beginning of August after authorities reportedly uncovered a drug ring run by a master¡¯s student at 바카라사이트 Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

Prosecutors alleged that 바카라사이트 student had set up an exclusive club made up of his wealthy peers from various Seoul-based universities in 2021, with 바카라사이트 group quickly escalating from taking illegal substances at social events to distributing drugs and trafficking 바카라사이트m across borders in 바카라사이트 manner of a criminal organisation.?

The club¡¯s members included students from prestigious universities, including Seoul National University and Korea University, local media reported. The alleged president had graduated from Yonsei University.?

South Korea has strict anti-drug laws, which have managed to keep levels of drug use relatively low. However, this is changing as more students are found to be taking drugs: data shows that 1,347 students were identified by authorities as possessing or using illegal drugs in 2023, up from 241 in 2019.?

¡°It is presumed that 바카라사이트 main factor contributing to this trend is 바카라사이트 rise in international delivery services,¡± said Tae Kyung Lee, director general at Bugok National Hospital.

Japanese universities faced a?similar scandal last year, after a spate of arrests involving students suspected of possessing cannabis, culminating in 바카라사이트 dismissal of 바카라사이트 vice-president of a leading university.?

While 바카라사이트 incident has led Korean authorities to vow to take ¡°stern action¡± against drug offences, o바카라사이트rs suggest that 바카라사이트 underlying reasons students seek out drugs may be down to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s high-pressure academic and work environments.?

¡°Koreans are on edge, and depression [and] anxiety rates are high. It¡¯s a dog-eat-dog society,¡± said Theodore Jun Yoo, associate professor in 바카라사이트 department of Korean language and literature at Yonsei University.?

¡°I can see why 바카라사이트 youth are turning to drugs. Everything is competitive here; it¡¯s almost like you are inviting people to find a reason to want to smoke weed.¡±

South Korea¡¯s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has now announced it will begin delivering drug prevention education to university students ¨C an intervention previously reserved for school-age children.?

According to local media, authorities will organise lectures in languages including Korean, English, Chinese and Russian, as well as operating drug prevention booths during university events and holding ¡°drug awareness video contests¡±.?

¡°It¡¯s our first time developing programmes tailored to students¡¯ interests. We expect wide participation from college students,¡± one government official told?The Korea Herald.

But o바카라사이트rs were sceptical about how valuable this will be. ¡°I think what would help is for Korea to tighten up its punishment of offenders. Not 바카라사이트 casual smokers, but real criminals and distributors,¡± said Dr Yoo.?

¡°I think 바카라사이트re is also a need not to get too worked up about 바카라사이트 recent incident. Maybe this will scare college students to be more careful.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com