SPOTV News reporter Jeong Hyewon reports: A South Korean court has denied an arrest warrant for Kim Bada, 55, the veteran vocalist of rock band Sinawe, who is accused of possessing and smoking marijuana.
On March 10, Jo Yak-dol — the judge responsible for arrest warrants at the Sokcho branch of the Chuncheon District Court — rejected prosecutors’ request to detain Kim on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act.
Judge Jo said prosecutors had not demonstrated adequate grounds for detention, pointing to insufficient evidence of a flight risk or the likelihood of evidence tampering.
Police allege that Kim possessed and inhaled marijuana. After securing an arrest warrant, officers tracked him for roughly two months and arrested him at a location in Sokcho at about 8:30 p.m. on the 8th.
Officers reportedly recovered marijuana at the scene, and Kim is said to have acknowledged the allegations during questioning.
Kim had been scheduled to perform at the "2026 Seoul Hero Rock Festival X Three Hundred" on April 26, but organizers announced he would no longer appear, citing the artist’s circumstances.
Kim debuted in 1996 as Sinawe’s fifth lead vocalist. After leaving the band, he went on to front groups including Nabi Effect, Raysios and Art of Parties. He has also been a regular presence on Korean music television, appearing on KBS2’s Immortal Songs and MBC’s King of Mask Singer.
