Holley justice, Korean style

Robert Holley, a TV celebrity, is escorted out of Nambu Police Station in Suwon, Wednesday, for the court's decision about his continued detention for allegedly using methamphetamine. He was released but a probe into his drug use allegation will continue. Yonhap

By Oh Young-jin

It's a metamorphosis put on super-stimulating methamphetamine ― Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde. In a matter of days, Robert Holley, a Mormon from California who became a naturalized Korean named Ha Il, turned from a goofy, jolly-good fellow, international lawyer ― turned-TV-personality into a drug addict, who for years led a secret life as non-binary and even duped his trusting friend into making a fool of himself in his defense. People were left at a loss how to feel about the person ― betrayal or sadness ― ended up in a collective action of tongue clucking.

Now, let's step away from the crowd, turn the Holley show in reverse and go slowly for close-ups. A news flash was out Tuesday evening about his apprehension for using alleged crystal meth, a banned drug. Then reports followed about his "partial" admission, a urine test that was positive and other factors.

His friend, a well-known scholar, came out in his defense, posting it on Facebook and having an interview with Yonhap News. It was based on his conversations with Holley regarding Korean police harassment and his fear of being targeted as a scapegoat in the middle of a sex-drug-viral video scandal buffeting the entertainment community.

Police issued a rebuttal statement rather quickly, denying it was a sting operation. They said CCTV footage capturing Holley depositing money in an account belonging to a drug dealer for a meth buy was one among many factors that triggered their probe.

There followed a cascade of damaging reports. One was about two drug busts for which he had cleverly dodged a conviction by removing all hair from his body and preventing police from obtaining a proper sample. The other was about his gay lovers, inviting particularly strong condemnation from the by-and-large homophobic nation. Were these reports possible without police help?

Meanwhile, all Holley said in public ― while police were escorting him ― was, "I am sorry."He remained quiet when asked about his confession. The court rejected his continued detention ruling there was no fear of flight or evidence being destroyed, a move sometimes being a "popular" precursor before a guilty-or-not-guilty verdict. Was Holley, a trained lawyer, hare-brained enough to admit his guilt as police claimed? Or did police make him a scapegoat to feed the public's insatiable appetite for saucy tidbits about celebrities in order to distract attention from a corrupt police story?

Remember the Holley escapade has come to attention while a bigger scandal involving Seungri, a member of K-pop mega group BIG BANG, and his friend and rocker Jung Joon-yang, is hitting the doldrums with only a few more revelations expected, at least for the time being. Of course, it all started with a group of bouncers beating up a drunken customer at Gangnam's hip joint, the "Burning Sun" club, a case that was amplified by Seungri's role in its management.

The case has peeled like an onion ― drugs, prostitution and date rapes, among others. Right, I have almost forgotten ― corrupt police who allegedly collaborated with and protected the club and its association with Seungri, other celebs, groupies and their sponsors. One senior police officer was relieved from duty, but did they talk about the national police commissioner's involvement? Oh, he denied it and no dirt was found on him, they say. But was former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-eui, the sex machine, whose dirty sex videos were leaked, declared free of any wrongdoing by at least two investigations into allegations that he received "sex" bribes from a builder? Kim is back under investigation for rape and bribery.

If it is not a police conspiracy to distract the public and save their skin, it would amount to the conspiracy of police and the public. Few members of the public have a memory span or patience enough to watch days of police corruption. In the public's collective consciousness, the people whose supposed mission is to protect and serve are tainted beyond being salvaged.

By offering up the celebrities, the police have satisfied the public and taken the spotlight off the police. And we, the media, are a key cog in getting this one big machine of delusion, churning out pages of reports and video files that are not always checked for accuracy.

Holley's privacy and rights, by extension those of others, are readily sacrificed.

In the eyes of the people, Holley is already guilty as suspected. His sexual orientation is out in the public realm, irrespective of his intentions. His family and friends are forever hurt. But what about a one in 1,000 chance (I use these long odds to reflect the prevalence of skepticism), that he is not as guilty as believed? Who would redeem his reputation or heal the wounds inflicted on his beloved ones? Can the scarlet letter branded on his forehead be erased at all?

We would be ready to say "tough luck" and go back to business as usual. But what if it happens to you? Perhaps the horror you feel may be the start of a process to become detoxed from this sordid drama of celebrity scandals and bring the responsible parties to accountability. This coliseum justice can be found in places other than Korea, in different shades and colors. Let's have a moment's silence for those gladiators and beasts that pay the ultimate price for nothing. But we should remember we gave them thumbs-down for their executions.

Oh Young-jin (foolsdie@gmail.com, foolsdie5@koreatimes.co.kr) is digital managing editor of The Korea Times.