"Just Posted 'A Cool Drink in Seoul'—Why Was This Man Convicted?"

[Financial News] A man in his 30s was fined after posting a message in an online chatroom that used slang implying methamphetamine use. Although the post did not lead to actual drug use, the court determined that even the expression itself constituted the distribution of drug use information via telecommunication networks.
On the 23rd, the legal community reported that the Seoul Western District Court, presided over by Judge Ma Sung-young, sentenced Mr. A (33) to a fine of 4 million won for violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances). If the fine is not paid, he will be detained for one day per 100,000 won, and the court ordered a portion of the fine to be prepaid.
Last March, Mr. A accessed a chat application anonymously in Mapo District, Seoul, and posted the message "A cool drink in Seoul" on a public board. He was brought to trial on charges related to this act.
The phrase was interpreted as a metaphor for methamphetamine, referring to it as a 'cool drink,' and was seen as implying both the act and amount of drug use. Investigators collected chatroom screenshots and Mr. A's statements, concluding that he had distributed drug use information through telecommunication networks.
During the trial, Mr. A claimed that he simply meant to suggest drinking alcohol, but the court did not accept this argument. Judge Ma stated, "The defendant admitted during the investigation that he knew 'cool drink' was slang for methamphetamine. Considering the entire conversation, it does not appear to be a simple invitation to drink, but rather an act implying drug use."
Mr. A had a prior conviction for a similar offense. In February last year, the Seoul Western District Court gave him a six-month suspended prison sentence for violating the Narcotics Control Act, which was finalized in April this year. The court opted for a fine this time, considering that he reoffended during the probation period.
The court ruled, "The defendant's post goes beyond the bounds of freedom of expression and constitutes the distribution of drug use information via telecommunication, which is prohibited by the Narcotics Control Act."
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter