Kim Na-jung, a broadcaster and former contestant of ‘Miss Maxim,’ has been transferred to the prosecutors on charges of drug use in the Philippines. Kim Na-jung, who sparked controversy by posting on social media that she had used drugs in the Philippines, claims she was forced to inhale drugs and submitted related evidence; however, the police found it difficult to confirm the coercion.
The Northern Gyeonggi Police Agency announced on the 24th that Kim Na-jung was transferred without detention on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act (use of methamphetamine and synthetic marijuana).
On November 12 of last year, before departing from Manila, Kim Na-jung posted on her social media, “I confess that I used drugs in the Philippines,” and “I feel like I’m going to die, so I can’t get on the plane,” which caused controversy. After returning to Incheon International Airport from the Philippines, she was investigated by the Incheon International Airport Police, and the case was transferred to the Northern Gyeonggi Police Agency considering her residence and other factors.
Subsequently, Kim Na-jung's side claimed that she was forced to inhale drugs in the Philippines and submitted video evidence to the police.
Kim Na-jung's legal representative, lawyer Kim Yeon-ki (Chungjeong Law Firm), stated in a press release, “The (drug) use by our client was a one-time incident and was forced,” claiming that there is video material showing the circumstances that forced her to inhale drugs. She alleged that she was bound and blindfolded by a young businessman referred to as A, whom she met in the Philippines, and was forced to inhale drug smoke.
However, after analyzing the materials submitted over approximately three months, the police concluded that “the materials are insufficient to prove coercion” and did not acknowledge the forced inhalation.
The Northern Gyeonggi Police requested an investigation into the businessman mentioned by Kim's side, who claimed coercion, from the International Affairs Division of the National Police Agency.
Kim Na-jung gained recognition by winning the ‘Miss Maxim’ contest in 2019 and has worked as a news anchor and weathercaster. She has appeared in SBS entertainment shows such as ‘Black Sheep Game’ and the Wavve original entertainment show ‘Ideological Verification Zone: The Community.’
