PROSECUTION EXPANDS PROBE INTO ENTERTAINERS' DRUG CASE

The prosecution is expanding its probe into drug use by some entertainers
following the recent arrest of eight suspects, including Seong Hyeon-ah,
27, a famous actress who got her start as Miss Korea, officials said yesterday.

The narcotics department of the Seoul District Prosecutor's Office said
they suspect three to four other entertainers were also involved in the case.

On Thursday, the prosecution arrested eight people, including Seong, on
drug charges.

Seong and the other suspects allegedly were provided with ecstasy, a
hallucinogenic drug, at hotel nightclubs, bars and karaoke establishments
on six occasions last October. They also purchased the drug illegally twice
last year, the prosecution said.

Seong reportedly told the prosecution she took the drug to overcome stress
stemming from her work.

Seong had appeared at the prosecutor's office Feb. 21 to take a urine
examination, but was released when the test turned out negative.

The prosecution later sought an arrest warrant for Seong after her hair
tested positive.

"Ecstasy is spreading rapidly because it is easy to take and has a profound
hallucinogenic effect," an official of the prosecutor's office said.

"We are also planning to expand our surveillance on drug trafficking into
the country, because ecstasy is not being produced inside Korea yet," he said.