YG Entertainment has issued a public apology after reports broke out that BIGBANG rapper T.O.P. was found positive for marijuana during a drug test conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in March. It was reported that a hair follicle from the rapper was found positive for the substance triggering an investigation by the prosecutor's office.
According to All K-pop, YG Entertainment immediately issued a statement as soon as the news broke out. The label aired T.O.P's side and apologized for his wrongdoing.
"After confirmation, we have learned that Choi Seung Hyun (T.O.P's real name) did, in fact, admit to the charge of smoking marijuana before his military enlistment," YG's statement read. "(He is) following through with all investigative measures by attending the police's investigation in the midst of his public service duties and deeply reflecting on his actions afterward."
It should be noted that YG's statement pertained to T.O.P's admission of doing marijuana before enlisting in the military in February this year. Early statements from the agency indicated that T.O.P. smoked marijuana in October last year. Whether the BIGBANG rapper continued to use the drug after his enlistment is now the subject of investigation.
Based on an earlier report by Kpopstarz, the use of marijuana or cannabis in any form is considered a violation of Korean drug laws. This was the reason that the investigation for T.O.P's case has been forwarded to the prosecutor's office for further investigation and processing.
Meanwhile, VIPs, the official fandom of BIGBANG have expressed support for the beleaguered rapper and said that they believe that T.O.P. will come out of his ordeal stronger. Some lamented that authorities are being too harsh on the BIGBANG member considering that he reportedly smoked cannabis in his own home and posed no danger to anyone. T.O.P. was serving as a conscripted police officer in Gangnam's band unit as part of his mandatory service before news broke out about his drug use.
