Comedian Lee Kyung-kyu, 65, is under police investigation for allegedly driving after taking medication. Lee clarified that he took prescribed medication, but police stated that driving should not occur if it may be affected, regardless of the situation.
According to police on the 9th, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul is conducting a pre-investigation into the case against Lee for violating the Road Traffic Act.
Lee reportedly received someone else's vehicle by mistake from a parking attendant around 2 p.m. the previous day at an indoor golf practice facility in Gangnam, Seoul, and drove it to his company.
Police responded to a report of suspected vehicle theft and conducted alcohol and drug tests on Lee. It has been reported that a positive result came back from the drug screening test.
In response, Lee stated in a media interview, "The positive drug test results were due to my medication for panic disorder and cold medicine," adding, "I did not take illegal drugs." Regarding driving someone else's vehicle, he remarked, "It was the parking attendant's mistake."
A representative from the Korean National Police Agency noted during a regular briefing that they plan to confirm Lee's claims that he took medication that was prescribed normally based on closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and statements from related individuals.
Regarding Lee's claims, they stated, "Even if the medication was prescribed normally, there are provisions in the Road Traffic Act regarding drugged driving that stipulate one should not drive in situations where there is concern that it may impair driving."
The Road Traffic Act Article 45 states that a driver must not operate a vehicle when they may not be able to drive normally due to exhaustion, illness, or the influence of drugs, in addition to being intoxicated.