Actor Lee Sang Bo (age 41) denied all allegations of drug abuse.

According to YTN on September 13,  "There is no fact that Lee Sang Bo took drugs but caused a misunderstanding due to the side effects of the depression medicine he took." YTN reported that Lee Sang Bo's depression worsened after his mother and sister died in an accident following his father's death in 2009, so he started taking antidepressants. According to the hospital diagnosis report submitted to YTN by Lee Sang Bo, the actor has been taking anti-depression medicine and anti-anxiety medicine since 2019 due to severe depression and anxiety.

Lee Sang Bo explained, "The positive reaction to the police reagent test was due to the small amount of narcotic ingredient contained in the antidepressant medication."

Meanwhile, on September 10, there were reports that a male actor in his 40s was arrested by the police for drug use. The news reports garnered much attention as many wondered about the identity of the male actor.

Since the identity of the male actor was not revealed, many male actors in their 40s were suspected to be the man in question. Then on September 11, surveillance footage of Lee Sang Bo running down the street was revealed. 

Police received a report about a man who seemed intoxicated. The police arrived at the scene and arrested Lee Sang Bo. The police found dozens of pills that looked like narcotics at Lee Sang Bo's home and sent them to the National Forensic Service for a detailed examination. The actor was released on September 12, and the police are planning to conduct an investigation without detention.