Korean entertainer’s ‘drug-driving’ report sparks discussion about panic disorder meds

Lee Kyung-kyu / Xportsnews

Comedian Lee Kyung-kyu has pushed back against media reports suggesting he was caught driving under the influence of drugs, expressing frustration over what he called a misleading portrayal.

On Monday, broadcaster MBN reported that Seoul’s Gangnam Police Station was investigating Lee for violating traffic laws. According to the report, Lee mistakenly drove someone else’s car on Sunday afternoon after visiting an indoor golf range in Gangnam. The mix-up occurred when a valet accidentally handed him keys to a similar-looking vehicle. The actual owner, suspecting theft, contacted the police.

Upon returning to the golf range, Lee underwent a breathalyzer test, which came back negative for alcohol. However, a separate field drug test indicated a positive result.

In response, Lee told multiple media outlets, “I had taken medication for a cold and for panic disorder before driving. I explained this clearly to the police, and the matter was resolved. I had just come from the hospital. But because headlines said ‘drug use,’ it gave people the wrong impression.”

He added, “Some ingredients in panic disorder medication can trigger a positive result. I didn’t drink or take any illegal substances.”

His agency confirmed to Yonhap News that Lee has been taking prescription medication for panic disorder for over a decade. “A psychotropic substance was detected, which is included in his prescribed medication. We even submitted the prescription bag,” the agency said. “While it’s true that a substance was detected, the police are simply following procedure.”

Regarding the car confusion, the agency explained, “After receiving a prescription for cold medicine, he was on his way when he realized his bag wasn’t in the car. Thinking he had left it at the hospital, he returned — only to discover he had taken the wrong car, which happened to be the same make and model. The misunderstanding was resolved as a simple mishap.”

However, a police spokesperson noted during a regular briefing that even if a drug is legally prescribed, driving under its influence can still be prohibited under South Korea’s Road Traffic Act if it impairs one’s ability to drive safely.

Lee has long been open about his struggles with panic disorder. In 2012, he first disclosed his diagnosis on KBS 2TV’s “Happy Sunday – Qualifications of Men.” The following year, on tvN’s “Martian Virus,” he said, “I’ve never lost my appetite in 50 years. I’ve been taking medication for panic disorder for about two years. If I skip it even for a day, it comes back — but I still eat through it.”

In 2021, he hosted a “panic disorder camp” on KakaoTV’s Jjin Kyung-kyu, joined by fellow entertainers who had experienced similar struggles. Lee recalled his first panic attack happening during a trip to Australia, saying it felt like “all the stress in the world hit me at once.”

Last year, on his YouTube channel, he shared, “While filming a segment tasting bento boxes from across Japan, I suddenly had a panic attack and collapsed.”

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.