Lee Kyung-kyu Clarifies “Drug Use” Reports After Mistaken Car Incident and Medication Test
On June 9, in a phone call with Sports Donga, Lee Kyung-kyu addressed the growing speculation, calling the reports “completely absurd” and “nonsense.” He explained, “I had the flu and took cold medicine before driving. The police confirmed the test result was due to the medication. It’s all been resolved.”
Lee Kyung-kyu also expressed frustration with misleading headlines, stating, “Using the phrase ‘drug use’ causes unnecessary misunderstanding. The truth is, I only took cold medicine and panic disorder medication. That’s all.”
The controversy began on June 8, when Lee Kyung-kyu drove from an indoor golf range in Seoul’s Gangnam District to his company in a foreign car identical in model to his own—but which actually belonged to someone else. The vehicle’s owner suspected theft and reported it to the police. It was later confirmed that a parking attendant had mistakenly handed Lee Kyung-kyu the wrong car keys. The matter was quickly cleared up once the error was discovered.
Police conducted a breathalyzer test, which showed a negative result for alcohol. However, a simple drug reagent test showed a positive result, prompting an investigation under the Road Traffic Act. A representative from the National Police Agency explained on June 9 that even legally prescribed medications can result in penalties if they impair driving. “We plan to verify Mr. Lee’s claims based on CCTV footage and witness statements,” the agency stated during a briefing.
In response, Lee Kyung-kyu told the media, “I’ve been taking panic disorder medication for years, and certain ingredients can cause a positive result. I did not drink alcohol or take any illegal drugs.”
Lee Kyung-kyu’s agency also issued a statement through Yonhap News, confirming that he has been taking medication for panic disorder for over a decade. “One psychotropic substance was detected in the test. He even submitted the packaging to the police. Since the substance was confirmed, authorities are investigating, but there’s no criminal intent.”
Regarding the mistaken vehicle, the agency explained that Lee had returned to the hospital thinking he had left his bag in the car. “That’s when he realized he had taken the wrong car, which happened to be the same model. It was just a misunderstanding, and everything has been resolved.”
Despite the incident, Lee Kyung-kyu’s quick and transparent response appears to have calmed public concern. With decades of trusted work in Korean entertainment, he is now hoping to move forward and put the matter behind him.
