(The Korea Times) Actress Kim Bu-seon’s calls on national TV for marijuana use to be legalized are causing a public uproar.
In a pre-recorded interview on MBC’s live morning show on Friday, the 46-year-old, who has advocated the legalization of the drug, said, “Marijuana is not a narcotic; it is technically an Oriental herbal medicine which Koreans have used for 5,000 years.”
Kim, who has been arrested for marijuana use several times, launched a campaign for the drug’s legalization in 2004 after being sentenced to a suspended jail term. She then filed a petition with the Constitutional Court for a review of the constitutionality of the country’s marijuana-related laws.
The actress also claimed that marijuana use can be beneficial to people with certain medical conditions.
“If smoking it doesn’t do harm to others, those who do need it, such as those suffering from depression or cancer patients, should be allowed to use it. Marijuana increases appetite and improves sleep,” she continued.
A number of people have demanded that MBC issue an apology for airing the controversial interview.
I’ve sent out a request to Ms. Kim’s representation for an interview on the Daily Audio Stash. I’m also hoping to use this to generate interest in a South Korea NORML. Breaking into the Asian market is going to be very difficult because of strict anti-cannabis laws and social taboos, but if we can leverage Ms. Kim’s statements, especially about the traditional Oriental uses of cannabis medicine, I believe we can do it. I’m still working with some Japanese activists to form a Japan NORML and a whole pack of Aussies looking to form NORML Down Under. With luck, we’ll have three or more outposts in the Pacific Rim by year’s end.
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I’ve got my connections working on trying to get her email and local contact information.
If obtained, I’ll send you the good word.
Being tactful and discrete here is an unfortunate necessity when discussing the issue of marijuana, as you can see by the backlash from her interview. I’m afraid the US has brainwashed these folks as well, while lining the SK government’s pockets with all kinds of incentives and funds to keep the pressure on the “War on Drugs”….”Keep the propaganda rolling and we’ll keep you in the trade loop.” These poor people.
We’ll see. I’ve still got an invite out to Ms. Kim. If we land an interview, that may spark some more interest.
Wow…4 comments after a week. So much for the interest in South Korean NORML. I was hoping to see more. Oh, well.
Seven years in SK and I’ve not once heard anything about people being “hooked” on methamphetamine purchased at the “street-corner pharmacy”. I’m not saying the pharmacies don’t have it, but it seems kind of strange that they would make it “readily available” like you say. Some of your co-workers? In what occupation? This is news to me!
Jillian,
38% doesn’t seem high. I’ve lived in SK for seven years, and if there is one thing I know for sure is that they are boozers. They are high consumers of cigarettes and alcohol. They love their soju. That’s it! 38% seems about right or a little low.
I spent 13 months in Korea, yet never even smelled the good herb. On the other hand, some of my co-workers were hooked on methamphetamine, which is readily available at street-corner “pharmacies”. Go figure.
I’d go back, if they could follow Mexico’s example, and at least allow a little pocket stash.
Cannabis never harmed anyone, unless you count the big businessman/executive/non-green business owner who will go down fighting to save his polluting, poisonous enterprise which is made instantaneously obsolete by hemp/cannabis production which will literally save our world.
The Korean-side comments on this article that are against Ms. Kim mainly take the form of “it’s a moral outrage”.
But there’s also a lot of Korean support there too. Many people mentioned their country’s problem with alcoholism, with one person posting that “38% of Koreans are alcoholics”. That seems kinda high.
I feel there is plenty of support there for a Norml chapter. There is obviously a dearth of sound knowledge on the issue on a national level.