Actor Yoo Ah-in (37, real name Eom Hong-sik), who was sentenced to prison and incarcerated in the first trial on charges of habitual drug use, was released after receiving a suspended sentence in the second trial. Yoo's first trial sentence was one year in prison and a fine of 2 million won.
The Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 5 (Director General Kwon Soon-hyung) held a sentencing hearing on the 18th for actor Yoo, who is facing charges of violating the Narcotic Control Act (psychotropic substances), and sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for two years, along with a fine of 2 million won.
The court noted, “We accept Yoo Ah-in's claim of unjust sentencing,” and overturned the original conviction. The court stated, “Yoo Ah-in seems to have committed this crime despite being informed of the risks of excessive drug use and experiencing depression,” adding, “He has pledged not to reoffend and has had over five months of time for reflection while incarcerated.” It also stated, “We considered that he has no prior record of similar offenses and has not received criminal penalties exceeding the fine.”
However, the court said, “Medical narcotics such as propofol are strictly regulated due to potential for dependency, and the nature of the crime is poor because he committed the offense using another person's name to procure drugs, which warrants significant criticism.”
Actor Yoo is facing a total of eight charges, including violations of laws regarding psychotropic substances, marijuana, soliciting the use of marijuana, soliciting the destruction of evidence, violations of medical law, fraud, violations of the National Health Insurance Act, and violations of the Resident Registration Act. According to prosecutors, Yoo is accused of administering propofol 181 times from September 2020 to March 2022, illegally obtaining sleeping pills under another person's name from May 2021 to August last year, and soliciting a well-known YouTuber who witnessed him smoking marijuana in January in Los Angeles to also try smoking it. He is also accused of soliciting the destruction of evidence when this fact was close to being revealed.
Both the first and second trial courts found him guilty of drug use and illegally prescribing sleeping pills under another person's name. However, regarding the charges of soliciting a well-known YouTuber to smoke marijuana and soliciting the destruction of evidence, the courts concluded, “There is no doubt that it was not proven,” and rendered a not guilty verdict.