[Photo by Yoo Dae-gil = dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]
BIGBANG member TOP was in serious condition after overdosing sedatives and remained unconscious, hospital authorities said as he was under close watch at an intensive care unit.
"TOP's condition is very serious," a doctor at Ewha Womans University Hospital told reporters. The singer was carried to the hospital Tuesday from the living quarter of conscripted policemen after showing symptoms of unconsciousness and heavy sweating. The incident took place a day after the 29-year-old was charged with smoking marijuana.
"He is still in a serious lethargic state," the doctor said. "The singer responds to strong stimulations by opening his eyes, but he soon falls back into a deep sleep."
When TOP arrived at the hospital, he showed "symptoms of very high blood pressure with a very high level of CO2 in his blood", the doctor said, adding he was not breathing properly. "We assessed his condition as very critical."
Police said earlier that the singer had walked out of his barrack, supported by colleagues. But the hospital said he was carried by three people into the emergency room, one holding his upper body and the rest clutching his legs. The singer overdosed benzodiazepine, a sedative psychoactive drug commonly used in treating insomnia, anxiety, agitation and other mental illnesses.
TOP, who has been serving his mandatory military service as a conscripted policeman since February, was charged Monday with smoking marijuana at his home with a female singer-trainee identified by her surname Han in October last year.
Fans showed a mixed reaction but many denounced TOP's acton. "I hope you look back on your actions and never repeat this kind of foolish action again," said "sayj", a user of South Korea's largest portal Naver.
"I think TOP succeeded in gaining sympathy vote," wrote Kazakus of the online community Clien. Another Naver user called Rnfm was more critical. "Go sleep somewhere else! Are you not ashamed of yourself?
The marijuana scandal was uncovered through a police investigation sparked by a testimony from Han, who was arrested in March. The singer initially argued that he smoked electronic cigarettes but did not know they were drugs. However, through the investigation, TOP was tested positive in a test for drug residues in hair.
TOP was the second BIGBANG member who has been charged with smoking marijuana. G-DRAGON was investigated by prosecutors on similar charges in 2011. Smoking or consuming marijuana is illegal in South Korea and violators could be sentenced to less than five years in prison.
Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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