on the charge of: ~ 혐의로
methamphetamine: 메탐페타민 (흥분제), 히로뽕은 상표명
narcotic substances: 향정신성 물질
aphrodisiac medicine: 최음제 (성적 욕구를 돋구는 약품)
second-tier: 이류
to star in: ~에 주연으로 출연하다
sweetheart: 연인, 모든 사람이 좋아하는 여자
big-ticket: 비싼 가격표의 (= big-budget)
thin out: 얇아지다
commercial spokeswoman: 광고모델
flagship: 대표적 제품, 최고급품
to sign her on (the contract): 황수정과 (계약)하기 위해
period drama: 시대물 드라마
Top actress arrested for drug charges
Top actress Hwang Soo-jeong, 31, was arrested Tuesday on the charge of taking drugs and was put behind bars later in the day.
According to the prosecution, she took 0.03 gram of methamphetamine in her whisky at around 2 a.m. on Nov. 9 with her boyfriend, only known by his last name Kang, at his house in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul.
Kang, who runs an upscale room salon in Gangnam, was also arrested on the same charges of violating the law on possession of narcotic substances. They reportedly acknowledged a few more cases of drug intakes lately.
Hwang alleged, however, that she did not know the nature of the substance mixed in her whisky but understood it as some sort of aphrodisiac medicine. Kang testified that he had not told her about the nature of the white power substance, but their allegations were not accepted by the court.
Hwang’s case marks the first time for an actress of such a magnitude to be arrested on drug charges. In the past, drug violations were not uncommon in the Korean entertainment industry but, more often than not, involved second-tier actors and lesser-known pop acts and rockers.
After starring in the hugely-popular period drama “Heo Jun” on MBC, she became the nation’s sweetheart for her hallmark traditional beauty and elegant charm and emerged among the most sought-after actresses not only for TV dramas but big-ticket commercials as well.
Even though no TV dramas are affected with the fall of the top actress, it would be inevitable for her corporate sponsors to pull their commercial campaigns featuring Hwang off the air.
Sponsors losing interest in actress
Popular actress Hwang Su-jeong’s wallet may be thinning out, as she is being fired from lucrative jobs as a commercial spokeswoman for major corporations.
Jinro Co., Korea’s largest distiller of soju, recently replaced Hwang with another TV actress Park Ju-mi for its flagship Charm Iseul soju brand, while BC Credit Card pulled a TV commercial featuring Hwang early this week, one month before the end of the contract.
According to industry sources, Lotte Department Store may also decide not to renew its modeling contract with Hwang next February. The retail giant paid 340 million won to sign her on last year.
After rising to national fame on the heels of the staggeringly popular MBC period drama, “(Herbal Doctor) Heo Jun” in 1999-2000, the 31-year-old Hwang emerged as a top commercial model in Korea with her traditional Korean beauty and charm, as displayed in the TV drama.
Accordingly, Hwang earned more than 2 billion won for her work in 10 commercials, including ads for cosmetics firm Pacific Corp. and Daewoo Motors’ Magnus sedan, for the first seven months of 2000 alone.
However, the recent developments signal a noticeable change in the attitude of her corporate clients toward Hwang, as they wish to pitch more aggressive and modern product images. Behind their decision to drop her is growing negative public opinion about her acting ability, sources said. (Oct. 19, 2001)
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