Here in America, hip-hop heads' shaky relationship with the police has been well-documented. But problems with the po-po aren't just confined to the good 'ole U.S.A. Currently under the swirling storm of imprisonment is recently incarcerated Korean hip-hop MC, Tiger JK a.k.a Jung Kwon Suh, of the hip-hop group Drunken Tiger. Tiger JK, one of the key figures in Korean hip-hop, began rhyming in 1995 and later released his solo debut album, Enter The Tiger. During Tiger's hometown fame explosion, the rapper faced government opposition as themajority of the media outlets wanted to censor the effort due to an unspoken anti-hip-hop initiative. A reported rivalry erupted between different local hip-hop groups as they each fought for free space in a region frigid on hip-hop, Unfortunately, this battle of the bands escaped musical boundaries, and a straight-up ssxtreeet strife developed between Tiger JK's Drunken Tiger camp and another crew by the name of Uptown. This later led to a number of run-ins which ended with the imprisonment of Tiger.

On May 2, Tiger JK turned himself into the police for questioning regarding an alleged drug abuse. Tiger took three drug tests including hair, urine, and blood analyses. The rapper's drug tests were all found negative, however, he still remained jailed in Seoul Detention House in Seoul, Korea. Tiger JK, adamantly maintaining his innocence, spent just short of a month locked up.

On July 18, JK's fate was determined. Judge Jong Pil Kim found Tiger guilty and sentenced the rapper to 80 hourse of community service and a two-year probation that prohibits him from performing, appearing on video, or appearing on the radio. JK is still fighting his case and the sentencing that has violently asphyxiated his hip-hop dreams. The rapper plans to appeal the sentencing. According to Dave Kebo, eye-witness and long time friend of JK, "They [the government] basically sabotaged his career... All three witnesses answered the prosectors' questions as if they had been told what to say." Since his imprisonment, release and probation, an international campaign has been launched on behalf of the rapper. Supporters have been urged to email a pre-written petition to the president of Korea available via the web site www.heavy.com.