Prosecutors sought a four-year prison sentence again in the appeals trial for actor Yoo Ah-in (Eom Hong-sik, 38), who was indicted on charges of habitual drug use.
At the sentencing trial held on the 24th under the criminal division 5 of the Seoul High Court, the prosecution requested the same sentence as the first trial, saying, "please convict on all counts." In Yoo's final statement, Yoo said, "I feel shame and guilt and will do my best for correction and recovery." The defense emphasized the lack of treatment for Yoo's depression and sleep disorders, appealing for leniency.
Yoo is accused of habitually administering medical narcotics, such as propofol, 181 times from September 2020 to March 2022, and illegally obtaining and purchasing sleeping pills under another person's name. The charges also include smoking marijuana in the United States in January of this year and encouraging another to smoke.
In the first trial, Yoo was sentenced to one year in prison and fined 2 million won, with immediate confinement in court, ordered to complete 80 hours of a drug program, and pay approximately 1.5 million won in forfeiture. However, he was acquitted of charges of encouraging marijuana smoking and destruction of evidence due to insufficient evidence.
The court is expected to deliver the appeals verdict on Feb. 18 next year.