Son of ruling party lawmaker faces drug charges

The son of a prominent current ruling party lawmaker in the National Assembly is being investigated on suspicion of attempting to acquire drugs, Seoul police said Friday.

According to the Seocho Police Station, the suspect in his 30s is suspected of being involved in a cannabis sale in October via the drop-off method, in which a drug dealer hides drugs in a predetermined location and the buyer retrieves them from there later. He was witnessed looking for the drugs with two acquaintances in a flower bed in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul.

The suspect's father was reported to be a prominent member of the conservative ruling People Power Party, although his identity is being withheld by authorities.

The suspect told police that he had been intending to obtain the drugs from an acquaintance but couldn't find them. Investigators found liquid cannabis at the scene, though the suspect tested negative for illegal drugs in a rapid drug test.

South Korea's Narcotics Control Act bans use, trade, possession or even giving and receiving of any substance defined as illegal drugs. The suspect is currently facing charges of attempting to receive cannabis, which is illegal here. Officials plan to conduct further investigation to see whether or not the suspect told the truth in that he had only intended to obtain the drug and not actually to use it.

The suspect has a history of being previously punished for drug use.