Former announcer and model Kim Na-jeong, aged 32, who reportedly posted and then deleted a message on social media claiming she had “turned herself in for drug use” in the Philippines, was questioned by airport police immediately upon her return to Korea. According to police reports, Kim arrived at Incheon International Airport from Manila on the 12th and underwent a two-hour questioning session at the airport police division before being allowed to return home. A police representative stated, “We collected testimony from Kim Na-jeong to ascertain the facts related to her social media post,” and clarified, “She has not been officially charged with drug use; the inquiry is part of a preliminary investigation.” They declined to confirm whether a preliminary drug test was conducted.
Earlier that day, Kim’s mother reported to the Seoul Seodaemun Police Station that she suspected her daughter had been kidnapped during her trip to the Philippines. After being alerted by the police, the Korean Embassy in the Philippines assisted in ensuring Kim’s safe transportation from her accommodation to the airport. An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned that the local consulate provided necessary consular assistance after becoming aware of the situation.
Kim Na-jeong had previously posted on her Instagram on the morning of the 12th, claiming, “I’m at the Conrad Hotel in Manila and facing a life-threatening situation,” adding that she was too scared to go to the airport or take a taxi, and pleading for help. She also shared a picture of the hotel interior in Manila and requested someone to “please call the embassy” after posting screenshots of text messages asking for contact. She did not reveal specific details about her situation at that time.
Controversy arose online when a post circulated saying that Kim uploaded and swiftly deleted an Instagram message mentioning ‘drug use’ along with photos seemingly taken at an airport. The post claimed that her flight from Manila to Incheon, supposed to depart at 11 PM, was delayed to 12:05 AM, and described a scenario where airport personnel and passengers allegedly took pictures of her akin to a scene from the movie “The Truman Show,” suggesting she feared being implicated in drug smuggling. The post purportedly stated her reasoning for not boarding the plane, expressing fear for her life if she did, and claiming she “admitted to drug use in the Philippines.”
Following the online uproar, a netizen filed a police complaint against Kim Na-jeong for violating drug control laws. The complainant, identified as Netizen A, expressed concern over the increasing instances of celebrity drug use and the potential influence on youth, urging law enforcement to take stricter action against celebrity drug offenses to serve as deterrents.