Suwon prosecutors indict 40s rapper over cannabis; media name him as Billstax
In short
The Suwon District Prosecution Office said on 20 October that it indicted a rapper in his 40s, without detention on 16 October, on suspicion of smoking cannabis in November last year and August this year. On 21 October several outlets, citing Star News and industry sources, identified him as Billstax (빌스택스), real name Shin Dong-yeol (신동열), and his agency apologised.
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The Suwon District Prosecution Office said on 20 October that it had indicted a man in his 40s, referred to as A, a rapper, without detention on 16 October for violating the narcotics management law. According to Yonhap, he is suspected of smoking cannabis several times in November last year and August this year. [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]
The narcotics crime joint investigation headquarters, then under the Suwon District Public Prosecutors' Office, learned of A's purchases while investigating B, a dealer in his 30s. The prosecution believes A bought cannabis from B in November last year and from another dealer in August. B was indicted in detention in July for growing cannabis at home and making cannabis jelly. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo reported that he grew 29 plants from August 2024 to June 2026. His other cases have been taken over by the Suwon District Serious Crime Investigation Agency. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo reported that the investigators found two people who had bought and used cannabis, and that the second user has also been sent to trial. Chosun Ilbo, citing OSEN, said the headquarters sent A and the other user to trial on 19 October. Maeil Business and OSEN said investigators plan to keep looking into whether others bought from B. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 9 ]
Citing KBS, Maeil Business and OSEN reported on 20 October that A had appeared on Mnet's Show Me the Money (쇼미더머니) and was known to have publicly argued several times for legalising cannabis. The reports did not give his name. [ 3 , 9 ]
On 21 October Newsis, Dong-A Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily, citing Star News and industry sources, reported that he is Billstax (빌스택스), real name Shin Dong-yeol (신동열). They said he debuted in 2004 as Vasco (바스코), became known through Show Me the Money 3 in 2014 and changed his stage name in 2016. OSEN reported that online users were speculating about his identity and that one rapper's real name was being circulated. [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 16 ]
The same reports said he was sentenced in 2018 to 1 year 6 months in prison, suspended for 2 years, for smoking cannabis and using cocaine and ecstasy. A later Newsis report dated the suspended sentence to 2015 and said his 2020 album DETOX caused controversy because of his call to legalise cannabis. His agency, Seukkeoreogaeng Business (스꺼러갱비즈니스), said on 21 October that he takes seriously the fact that he repeated the same mistake, is deeply remorseful and will cooperate with the judicial process. It also distanced itself from some reports it said were untrue. [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]
Why it matters
The case grew out of the investigation of a cannabis dealer indicted in July, and investigators plan to look into whether others bought from him. Outlets stressed that the rapper had earlier argued publicly for legalising cannabis.
Key facts
- The Suwon District Prosecution Office said on 20 October that it indicted a man in his 40s, a rapper referred to as A, without detention on 16 October for violating the narcotics management law. [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]
- He is suspected of smoking cannabis several times in November last year and August this year. [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]
- The prosecution believes he bought cannabis from a dealer in his 30s, B, in November and from another dealer in August. [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]
- B was indicted in detention in July for growing cannabis at home and making cannabis jelly. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]
- On 21 October Newsis, Dong-A Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily, citing Star News and industry sources, reported the rapper to be Billstax (real name Shin Dong-yeol). [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]
- His agency, Seukkeoreogaeng Business (스꺼러갱비즈니스), said on 21 October that he takes seriously having repeated the same mistake and will cooperate with the judicial process. [ 15 , 16 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A rapper in his 40s was indicted without detention on 16 October for violating the narcotics management law, the Suwon District Prosecution Office said on 20 October. [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]
- Dealer B, in his 30s, was indicted in detention in July for growing cannabis at home and making cannabis jelly; the joint investigation team found the rapper's purchases while investigating him. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]
- Another cannabis user identified in the same investigation has also been indicted. [ 2 , 5 , 9 ]
- The rapper's agency said on 21 October that he was indicted and that it takes seriously the fact that he repeated the same mistake. [ 15 , 16 ]
Still unclear
- The rapper's identity. The prosecution did not name him. Newsis, Dong-A Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily named him as Billstax on 21 October based on a Star News report and industry sources; OSEN reported that online users were speculating about other names.
- When he was previously sentenced for drug offences. Newsis, Dong-A Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily say a suspended sentence of 1 year 6 months with 2 years' probation came in 2018, while another Newsis report says a suspended prison sentence came in 2015.
- Whether he was detained. The prosecution said he was indicted without detention, but a Sports Chosun summary says he was arrested.
- Which reports the agency considers inaccurate. Newsis says the agency distanced itself from some reports it called untrue but gives no detail.
- Whether other people bought cannabis from B. Maeil Business and OSEN say investigators plan to continue looking into this.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 20 October Yonhap and Newsis publish reports on the indictment of a rapper in his 40s. [ 1 , 2 ]
- On 20 October Maeil Business, citing KBS, reports that the rapper appeared on Show Me the Money. [ 3 ]
- On 21 October Newsis reports, citing Star News and industry sources, that the rapper is Billstax. [ 12 ]
- On 21 October Maeil Business reports a statement from Billstax's agency after the indictment. [ 15 ]