On March 3, 2026, the South Korean music industry was thrown into turmoil when Park Bom, a member of the iconic girl group 2NE1, published a lengthy, handwritten letter on her Instagram account. In it, she reignited a decade-old controversy about her use of Adderall, a controlled substance, and lobbed explosive accusations at her former bandmate Sandara Park, as well as YG Entertainment and key figures from her past career. The saga has set off a flurry of denials, speculation, and concern throughout the K-pop world.
Park Bom’s letter began with a direct address to the public: “I want to tell you the truth,” she wrote, according to JoongAng Ilbo. Expressing caution about stirring up fresh controversy, she confessed that the issue of Adderall, a medication she’s been associated with since a 2010 scandal, still weighed heavily on her mind. “Adderall is not a drug. I am an ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) patient,” Park wrote, as reported by YTN Star and News1. She clarified that the medication, while banned in South Korea, is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating ADHD and ADD, conditions she claims to suffer from.
This public statement wasn’t just about defending herself. Park Bom went on to allege that Sandara Park, her fellow 2NE1 member, had actually been caught using drugs, and that Park herself was made a scapegoat to cover up that incident. “Sandara Park was caught for drug use, and to cover that up, they made me out to be the drug addict,” Park asserted, according to bntnews and OSEN. She further accused YG Entertainment, along with producers Yang Hyun-suk, Teddy, and CL, of falsely reporting to authorities that she had used more drugs than prescribed over nearly 30 years. “Don’t report to the government that I used more drugs than prescribed when I haven’t used any in almost 30 years,” she pleaded.
The allegations immediately drew responses from those named. Sandara Park’s side, reached by YTN Star and JoongAng Ilbo, categorically denied the drug accusations, stating, “These claims are groundless.” Sandara’s agency, Abyss Company, added to bntnews that her exclusive contract had expired, making it difficult to issue a formal statement. This contract expiration was confirmed by Abyss Company on the same day as Park Bom’s letter, closing an era that began when Sandara joined Abyss in 2021 after her initial departure from YG Entertainment.
The controversy has revived memories of Park Bom’s 2010 scandal, when she was investigated for importing Adderall into South Korea without proper authorization. At the time, prosecutors deferred charges after confirming the medication was for her treatment, as reported by OSEN and News1. Park Bom’s latest letter claimed that, at the time of her incident, “there were no laws or regulations about Adderall in Korea, but strangely, after my case, laws were created.”
Adderall, which contains amphetamine, is a psychotropic drug used to treat attention deficit disorders. While it’s legal and commonly prescribed in the United States, South Korea bans its use and import, as highlighted by JoongAng Ilbo and News1. The drug is known for its potential for abuse and side effects ranging from headaches and nausea to life-threatening complications. Park Bom’s insistence that her use was strictly medical, and her frustration at being labeled a drug user, have been consistent threads in her public statements over the years.
This isn’t the first time Park Bom’s social media activity has caused a stir. In October 2025, she posted about plans to sue Yang Hyun-suk, the former head of YG Entertainment, over alleged unpaid earnings from her time in 2NE1. She claimed she was owed an implausibly large sum and accused YG of failing to provide proper accounting. Her agency at the time, D-Nation Entertainment, swiftly denied any such lawsuit had been filed and stated that all settlements were complete. “Park Bom is currently focusing on treatment and recovery,” the agency said, noting her unstable emotional state and urging the public to refrain from sharing unverified information.
Indeed, Park Bom has been on hiatus since August 2025, with D-Nation Entertainment explaining that she needs rest and medical care. “She received advice from her doctors that sufficient rest and stability are necessary,” the agency told News1. Her associates have repeatedly cited her health instability as a factor in her recent behavior. “This happened because Park Bom is not in a stable condition,” a close source told OSEN, asking for understanding from the public and fans alike.
The fallout from Park Bom’s letter has left the future of both her and Sandara Park’s careers uncertain. For Sandara, the timing of her contract expiration with Abyss Company—just as these accusations surfaced—has complicated any official response. For Park Bom, the controversy has deepened concerns about her well-being and the pressures faced by K-pop idols under intense public scrutiny.
As the story continues to unfold, observers are left to grapple with the complexities of medical privacy, celebrity accountability, and the sometimes-blurred line between personal struggles and public narratives in the entertainment industry. The 2NE1 legacy, already marked by both musical innovation and controversy, now faces a new chapter defined as much by personal conflict as by artistic achievement.
With both sides sticking to their positions and agencies treading carefully, the K-pop world is watching for further developments, hoping that clarity—and perhaps healing—may eventually emerge from the storm.