[A Person Holding a Bottle of Pills: Photo Credit Pexels]

On April 3rd, at 6 pm, underage students were handed out drug-laced drink samples in the Daechi-dong hagwon district. 

They were given to the students by hired part-timers who told the students that the benefits of the drink were 'increased memory, strengthened concentration' as written on the label.

The narcotic drinks distributed were branded as “Mega ADHD” and said to contain ecstasy along with 0.1g of Methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth, mixed in Chinese milk.

The amount of narcotics per bottle was actually at an amount where there was a risk of delirium or bodily damage to minors who had not received prior administration. 

Victims reported that they were extremely dizzy and suffered from vomiting, with one reporting that they suffered from the side effects for multiple weeks. 

Fortunately, in this case, the drugs were diluted with milk so there was not a concentrated intake of the chemical substances. 

However, if the amount of drugs in the drink were directly injected or inhaled, it could have caused permanent health damages.

According to the police investigation so far, this case was found to be directly linked to a Chinese voice phishing gang. 

The Koreans who were arrested a few days after the incident revealed that they had joined the gang in October of last year. 

The gang produced 100 bottles of the narcotic drinks, 18 of which were distributed in Daechi-dong. 

Out of the 18 distributed that day, a total of 7 students and 1 parent reported back that they had consumed the laced substance. 

The crime was reported to have a financial motive. 

After students drank their free samples of ‘Mega ADHD’, they were asked to complete a survey that required them to write down their name and phone number. 

The phone numbers were used by the gang the next day to threaten the parents that their children had taken drugs, which are illegal in Korea. 

One parent reported that a blackmailer demanded 100 million Korean won in exchange for their silence.

This was only one such  drug case in Korea, which has grown by 304% since 2017. 

On April 30th, the Supreme Prosecutor's Office reported that criminals who supplied drugs to teenagers, criminals who have involved teenagers in drug distribution, and criminals who used drugs together with teenagers were all eligible for life sentences and the death penalty. 

They reported that juveniles would also  be prosecuted and arrested if they were involved in the distribution of drugs.

The Korean government is most concerned with juvenile drug consumption, which has increased by nearly 10 times. 

Although drugs are illegal in Korea, teens have found ways to access affordable drugs from the black web and social media without face-to-face interaction. 

Some narcotic prices were equivalent to the price of one pizza. 

As such, guardians such as parents and teachers were advised by the government to tentatively observe any symptoms or withdrawal symptoms in their students/children as the government is currently actively supporting treatment and rehabilitation for teenagers.