Producer and broadcaster Don Spike (real name Kim Min-soo), who was sentenced to two years in prison for administering drugs 14 times, appeared live on air. He said, "If I hadn't been caught, I would have died using drugs," and added, "There will still be people who feel uncomfortable seeing me. I apologize once again for causing this trouble."
On the 24th, Don Spike appeared on JTBC's YouTube political and current affairs talk show 'Genre Man Yeouido.' The host, Jung Young-jin, noted, "This is definitely not (Don Spike's) comeback broadcast."
Don Spike stated, "Everything I've done my whole life has disappeared, but I've also gained something," adding, "I am spending time with my family while receiving addiction rehabilitation treatment. The people there have the will to recover from drugs, and the pain that only those who have had such experiences know helps strengthen each other."
He also said, "I started using drugs through encouragement from those around me. I last used them in September 2022. Honestly, (drugs) are like a magnet," and continued, "Using drugs means that you are already a person with magnetism. That magnetism does not disappear and remains inside me." He added, "Just as a metal piece does not fall off when attached to a magnet, you need to keep your distance and not create such an environment in the first place. This is something I can do with my will," stating, "It's not a matter of hardening your heart; you cannot quit it with willpower like a disease. I wanted to come here to say that this is the path you must take to recover."
When asked if anyone noticed something strange, he replied, "You can't help but notice. The process happens gradually. It changed little by little." Regarding the recent drug distribution environment, he said, "These days, it is very easy. In the past, you had to know someone who used drugs to obtain them, but now, with social media (SNS) becoming commonplace, it has become easier to access if you are willing."
Don Spike was arrested in September 2022 for possession and use of methamphetamine at a hotel in Gangnam, Seoul. He was accused of purchasing methamphetamine worth 45 million won on nine occasions from late 2021 to late the following year and using it 14 times. Don Spike acknowledged all charges, and the first-instance court sentenced him to three years in prison with a five-year suspension.
It was revealed that in the process, Don Spike had a previous conviction for smoking marijuana in 2010, for which he received a fine, and was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year suspension for another drug charge in the same year, causing controversy. Ultimately, in the second trial, he was sentenced to two years in prison, and Don Spike was re-incarcerated, being released in March. After his release, Don Spike is running a restaurant that he opened with his younger brother.