Park Joong-hoon Reflects on Past Marijuana Scandal in New Essay 'Don't Regret'

Actor Park Joong-hoon has shed light on a past marijuana controversy, referencing it during a press conference for his new essay, 'Don't Regret.'

The press event, held on the afternoon of the 4th at the Jeongdong 1928 Art Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, saw Park Joong-hoon alongside pianist and writer Moon A-ram as MCs.

Park revealed that his essay includes not only his accomplishments but also his failures and personal flaws. Notably, he decided to address the marijuana incident, which had caused a significant stir in society at the time.

According to news reports from 1994, Park was accused of smoking marijuana four times with a US military high school teacher who appeared on a morning talk show. The Seoul District Prosecutor's Office's Violent Crimes Unit subsequently arrested Park for violating the Narcotics Control Act.

"When you tell your own story, if you only talk about the good things, people won't believe you. You don't have to detail every sordid part, but the marijuana incident was a huge event for me, even if younger generations today might not remember it. I thought revealing my feelings about it would enhance the book's credibility," Park explained the reason for including the scandal.

He continued, "In the end, the past was mine. Both the good and the bad were things I did. What's important is how I've recovered from it and built upon it at this age." He quoted, "Though it might sound cliché, I like the saying that 100% cement will break; it needs gravel and sand to become sturdy concrete." Park emphasized, "I'm not saying I'll repeat those mistakes, but I accept my past errors as my own."

Meanwhile, 'Don't Regret,' published on the 29th of last month, offers readers a look back at Park Joong-hoon's forty-year acting career and his life as an individual.

Korean netizens reacted positively to Park Joong-hoon's candidness, with comments like "His honesty is palpable," "It's admirable how he acknowledges and moves past his past," and "I really want to read the book."