김부선, 코리아타임스, 오마이뉴스 영문 생나무 기사

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Kim Bu-Sun: Korea's Unjust Laws on Marijuana
Seeking Justice for Kim Bu-Sun
	James Yong Kerby (jyk113077)

Korean actress, Kim Bu-Sun, was convicted to an 8 month prison sentence by the Korean Supreme Court for smoking marijuana. I have informed well respected American political advocates and critics regarding these unjust laws in South Korea. I have utilized Myspace.com to inform people against these injustices inflicted upon this talented woman and actress. I am urging the Internet community to speak for Kim Bu-Sun, who has suffered unjustly due to South Korea’s violation of political prisoner’s rights. Please post the following blurb along with the html, to any website that will call this injustice to the world’s attention.

Thank You and Seek Justice for Kim Bu-Sun

The Korean Supreme Court upheld an eight-month prison sentence for actress Kim Bu-sun, whose arrest for smoking marijuana in July 2004 led to national debate about the country's pot laws. Kim was quickly found guilty, but later filed a petition arguing that the ban on marijuana was unconstitutional. That petition was rejected by the high court, and now the court has upheld her prison sentence.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/06/117_47253.html] 06-22-2009 17:48

Actress Under Fire for Backing Marijuana

Actress Kim Bu-seon

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

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.

In MBC interview, she took the opportunity to protest the recent arrest of actor Oh Gwang-rok on charges of marijuana use, saying his actions caused no harm and that the drug did not affect his ability to act.

``Have you ever heard of any news that I committed a crime after smoking marijuana? I have never done anything harmful, as politicians or thieves have," she said.

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.

``Korea has the highest ratio of death by suicide among OECD members. The nation needs to take marijuana as a depression remedy and make depression patients come back to society."

She also claimed that investigations into entertainers who smoke cannabis were politically motivated.

``Whenever the government has troubles, it uses drug-taking entertainers to divert people's attention. It is the best way to make entertainers and artists obey the government,'' Kim said.

After the interview, the show's host Shin Dong-ho said that he has a different opinion, but added that he would defend her right to speak out on her beliefs if she gets in trouble because of the remarks.

TV viewers and Internet users have attacked Kim and MBC over the comments. A blogger identified as findsoul said, ``If marijuana is an Oriental medicine, is methamphetamine a Western medicine? It is not right to justify narcotics even though it is a minority opinion."

Another called sinwoos2002 said, ``MBC, a public TV station, broadcast that marijuana could be helpful for society. It is obviously quite a low-quality show."

A number of people have demanded that MBC issue an apology for airing the controversial interview.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr

2008/09/15 오후 7:37

Marijuana Ban Stirs Debate

| 기사입력 2004-12-10 17:12 | 최종수정 2004-12-10 17:12

	광고

By Kim Rahn

Staff ReporterDescribing marijuana as a narcotic or not is emerging as a hot issue in South Korea, with a number of celebrities and experts claiming the law banning smoking marijuana is unconstitutional.The Drug-Related Criminology Institute on Friday held a debate at the Press Center in Seoul about ways to control marijuana for policy recommendations.Lawyer Kim Sung-jin claimed the side effects of marijuana are far fewer than that of other narcotics such as nicotine and heroin, citing a report of the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse.``An individual has the right to control his body as long as he does not damage society’s ethics. Banning the smoking of marijuana, which is less harmful than other narcotics, is in violation of the constitutional right to pursue happiness,’’ Kim said.He also claimed smoking marijuana is a preference, so punishing those smoking marijuana and not those having a cigarette or alcohol is against the principle of equality.Jeon Kyoung-soo, president of the institute, also said marijuana is different from other narcotics, including cigarettes, in terms of mental and physical damage.``The government should place marijuana in a separate category from other narcotics by establishing a new law governing hallucinogenic drugs in general, so smoking marijuana can be subject to punishment under the new law,’’ Jeon said.Such claims support the recent movement by popular celebrities including actress Kim Pu-son, director Park Chan-wook and singer Cheon In-kwon, who called for the legalization of marijuana. Kim filed a petition with a court in October questioning the constitutionality of banning marijuana.However, others pointed out marijuana still contains harmful ingredients and causes hallucinations, even though it is less harmful than other drugs.``In small doses, users experience changed senses and in large doses, they suffer from hallucinations and can’t concentrate. Its abuse can also cause mental diseases such as anxiety disorder,’’ professor of Uiduk University Choi Yong-min said.Choi stressed marijuana is often called the ``gateway drug’’ because marijuana is usually the first step toward using stronger drugs.The Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office also said on Thursday that foreign countries such as France and Japan give criminal punishments to marijuana smokers as well. ``We’ll take heavy punitive measures to those producing and distributing marijuana, while implementing a system of medical treatment for those detected of smoking it,’’ the prosecution said in its written statement.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr

Debates Mount Over Marijuana Ban

| 기사입력 2004-10-19 17:21 | 최종수정 2004-10-19 17:21

	광고

By Kim Rahn

Staff ReporterA narcotic crime expert claimed marijuana should not be regarded as a narcotic, supporting a female actress who filed a petition with a court to decide whether the laws banning marijuana are constitutional.His remark and the petition are expected to draw a new debate on marijuana, which some often argue is safer than cigarettes.The nation had a law related to the control of marijuana to regulate those smoking the material since 1965, but the law was absorbed into the law governing narcotics in 2000. Currently, people smoking marijuana are thus punished as narcotics criminals.``Scientifically, marijuana is just marijuana, a plant, as ginseng is just ginseng. It is neither a narcotic nor an addictive drug according to international agreements,’’ Jeon Kyoung-soo, president of the Drug-Related Criminology Institute of Korea told The Korea Times.From this point of view, Jeon said current law governing narcotics may be unconstitutional, as the actress Kim Pu-son insists.Kim was arrested in July for smoking marijuana and was sentenced to a suspended prison term of two years. She filed a petition yesterday to a Suwon court where her appeal is pending, demanding it review whether the law on narcotics is constitutionally acceptable. ``Current law prescribing marijuana as a narcotic is unconstitutional, and banning marijuana is in violation of the right to pursue happiness,’’ Kim claimed during a media briefing after filing the petition. She also said if the court rejects it, she would file the petition with the Constitutional Court.Jeon of the drug criminology institute said current law on narcotics will bring about ceaseless controversy, because it stipulates marijuana, a non-narcotic according to him, as a kind of narcotic and punishes people by the law.``Marijuana contains mild hallucinogenic properties, but its side effects are smaller than that of other narcotics such as philopon, or methamphetamine. The punishment should be different for those smoking marijuana and those taking other narcotics,’’ Jeon said.He also claimed it is desirable to regulate marijuana in a separate category from other narcotics by establishing a new law governing hallucinogenic materials generally. Those smoking marijuana then could be subject to punishment by the new law, Jeon added.In the case of the U.S., the authorities punish those illegally possessing, cultivating or smoking marijuana. But according to the law, the plant is not regarded as a narcotic. Relaxed laws on marijuana use in the Netherlands have been touted as a model for other countries to follow.``A growing number of scholars claim marijuana should be excluded from the list of narcotics. I’ll recommend such a move through seminars and hearings with the institution,’’ Jeon said.However, others say the nation and people should be careful about taking such steps, as the issue is not only academic but also social.``It is a very keen issue. Scientifically, marijuana is not a narcotic as it is not addictive. From such a point of view, actress Kim’s claim is reasonable,’’ a psychologist told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity. He said marijuana itself is even less addictive than cigarettes.``However, the problem is, many of those smoking marijuana take other narcotics as well. Then the matter becomes social rather than academic, and should be dealt with socially,’’ he stressed.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr

 

 

 

[번역]Actress wins support for marijuana challenge 대마초 금지에 도전하는 여배우에 지지얻다

| 기사입력 2004-10-21 10:02 | 최종수정 2004-10-21 10:02

	광고

Actress Kim Bu-seon is fighting an uphill battle to get the ban on marijuana lifted but she appears to be getting a glimmering of support.

Jeon In-kwon, a famous rock singer, told a concert audience which included the actress, this week that any entertainers who disagreed with Kim`s argument are "foolish".

Kim, who won popularity for starring in a series of erotic movies in the 1980s, made headlines for attempting to jump off from her fifth-floor apartment in July before she was arrested for smoking marijuana.

She was later sentenced to a suspended jail term of two years. It was the fifth time the 43-year-old actress had been punished for puffing the prohibited plant since December 2000.

The court set her free on a bail of 3 million won, taking into account her casting for a movie to be promoted up soon.

The actress made a successful comeback earlier this year by enacting a small restaurant owner trying to seduce a high school student in a movie titled, "Once Upon a Time in High School," after being left out of the screen for more than a decade.

Being released from jail, Kim expressed regret for being punished for smoking marijuana again.

But she became less remorseful, filing an appeal to a court in Suwon last week, saying the sentencing was excessive for what she did. The actress went further Tuesday, submitting a petition to the same court to ask for a judgment on whether the law on narcotics, which regards marijuana as an illegal substance, is constitutionally acceptable.

"Banning marijuana infringes on the right to pursue happiness, which is guaranteed by the Constitution," Kim said in a meeting with reporters after filing the petition. She pledged if the court rejected it, she would take the case to the Constitutional Court.

She insisted that marijuana does lower degree of harm to the body and none to the society - in comparison with cigarettes and alcohol - and that it is not a hallucinogenic drug.

The actress also said she wished that marijuana would be made legal because she has found marijuana can be a useful treatment for heart disease and glaucoma, from which she is suffering.

Her lawyer Kim Sung-jin noted smoking or possessing a small amount of marijuana is exempted from punishment in an increasing number of countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Greece.

(glamazon@heraldm.com) By Hwang You-mee

영화배우 김부선이 대마초 금지조치의 해제를 위해 힘겨운 싸움을 벌이고 있으나 그녀에게 보내지는 지지가 조금씩 생겨나고 있는 것으로 보인다.

이번 주에 유명한 록싱어인 전인권은 콘서트에 온 김부선 등의 청중에게 김부선의 주장에 동의하지 않는 엔터테이너는 “바보”라고 말했다.

1980년대에 에로영화 시리즈에 출연하여 인기를 얻었던 김부선은 대마초 흡연 혐의로 체포되기 전에 자신의 5층 아파트에서 뛰어내리려 한 것으로 헤드라인을 장식했다.

그녀는 그 후 2년 징역에 집행유예를 선고 받았다. 43세의 이 여배우가 2000년 12월 이후 금지된 식물을 흡연하여 처벌을 받기로는 다섯번째다.

법원은 김부선이 출연한 영화가 곧 홍보에 들어간다는 점을 고려하여 300만원의 보석금을 받고 석방했다.

십년을 넘게 은막을 떠났던 이 여배우는 올해 초에 “말죽거리 잔혹사”라는 영화에서 고등학생을 유혹하려는 조그만 식당의 주인으로 출연하여 컴백에 성공했다.

감옥에서 풀려난 김씨는 대마초를 피워 또 처벌을 받게 된 것을 후회했다.

하지만 그녀의 죄의식은 흐려지고 자신의 행위에 대해 형이 너무 무겁다며 지난 주에 수원지방법원에 항소를 신청했다. 이 여배우는 한걸음 더 나아가 화요일에는 대마초를 불법 마약으로 간주하는 마약류 관리법의 합헌 여부에 대한 심판을 동일 법원에 제출했다.

“대마초를 금지하는 것은 헌법에 보장되어 있는 행복추구권을 침해한다”고 김씨는 위헌법률제청 신청을 낸 후 기자들과 만난 자리에서 말했다. 그녀는 법원이 이 신청을 기각한다면 이 사건을 반드시 헌법재판소로 가지고 가겠다고 말했다.

그녀는 대마초는 담배나 알코올에 비해 신체에 미치는 위해성이 낮으며 사회에는 아무런 위해를 미치지 않는다면서 환각성 마약이 아니라고 주장했다.

이 여배우는 또 대마초가 자신이 앓고 있는 심장병이나 녹내장 치료에 유용하다는 것을 알았다면서 대마초가 합법화되기를 원한다고 말했다.

그녀의 변호사인 김성진 변호사는 네덜란드나 스위스, 이탈리아, 스페인, 그리스 등 소량의 대마초를 흡연하거나 소지하는 일은 처벌을 하지 않는 나라가 증가하고 있다는 점을 지적했다.

 

 

 

Celebrities to Speak Up for Legalization of Marijuana

| 기사입력 2004-12-08 21:45 | 최종수정 2004-12-08 21:45

	광고

By Park Chung-a

Staff ReporterA small group of popular Korean celebrities will gather in Seoul on Thursday to call for the legalization of marijuana.The group will include ``Old Boy’’ director Park Chan-wook; Chun Kyu-chan, a professor of the Korean National University of Arts; and singers Cheon In-kwon, Kang San-ae and Shin Hae-cheol. Cheon has been charged and imprisoned for smoking marijuana several times.Kang and Shin, known for being outspoken about their political beliefs, will make speeches during the gathering, which will take place in Anguk-dong, Seoul. Other supporters who will give official announcements include movie directors Kim Dong-won and Jang Seon-woo. The legal representative of the female actress Kim Pu-seon, who recently created a nationwide controversy by filing a petition with a court questioning the constitutionality of banning marijuana, will also participate in the event. The nation had a law regulating the smoking of marijuana from 1965, but the law was absorbed into a separate law governing narcotics in 2000. The announcement will come during an event held by Cultural Action, a civil organization advocating cultural diversity and social justice.

michelle@koreatimes.co.kr