{
  "id": 19233432,
  "title": "String of drug busts shatters Korea's drug-free myth",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/string-of-drug-busts-shatters-koreas-drug-free-myth-19233432",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T22:42:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20261110/string-of-drug-busts-shatters-koreas-drug-free-myth"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "A recent series of drug busts in South Korea has cast doubt on the nation's long-standing image as a drug-free country, with both locals and foreigners increasingly entangled in narcotics-related activities. Between March and October, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police referred 66 foreign nationals to the prosecution on charges such as violating the Narcotics Control Act, with 30 of them currently in custody. Most of these suspects were Southeast Asian students who entered the country on D-2 student visas or D-4 language training visas. The investigations uncovered various forms of drug-related offenses, including drug manufacturing, smuggling, distribution, purchase, and use. One suspect was apprehended while setting up equipment in a studio apartment to produce ecstasy pills, while six others were arrested after evidence revealed their involvement in smuggling large quantities of ecstasy, ketamine, and other drugs into the country via international mail.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}