'Marijuana Smoking' Heir of Hyosung Founder, Suspended Prison Sentence in First Trial

A third-generation chaebol heir who was prosecuted for purchasing and smoking marijuana received a suspended sentence in the first trial.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 23 (Presiding Judge Jo Byeong-gu) on the 23rd sentenced Cho Mo (39), a director of DSDL who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act (marijuana), to one year in prison with a two-year suspension and ordered him to pay a fine of 2.5 million won. The court also ordered 130 hours of probation and community service, as well as 40 hours of drug addiction recidivism prevention education program completion.

The court stated, "Drug crimes are difficult to detect, have a high risk of recidivism, and possess addictiveness and transmissibility. They have a significant negative impact not only on individuals but also on public health and social order, so severe punishment is necessary," and pointed out, "The amount of liquid marijuana purchased by the defendant is not small, so the culpability is not light."

However, the court added, "The defendant admitted and confessed to all the crimes in this case and promised not to reoffend," and "It appears that the liquid marijuana was smoked alone, and there is no evidence of distribution to a third party. Considering all circumstances, a suspended sentence is imposed only for this time."

The court further stated, "If the defendant uses drugs again or commits a serious crime during the suspension period, the suspension will be immediately revoked, and a long-term sentence of more than one year is possible. Spend time reflecting while doing community service."

Cho was prosecuted in December of the same year on charges of purchasing and smoking marijuana four times from January to November last year. He is also charged with possessing 0.9g of marijuana in a passenger car. He is the grandson of the late Cho Hong-je, founder of the Hyosung Group, and serves as a director of DSDL, which separated from the Hyosung Group.

At the previous sentencing hearing, the prosecution requested the court to sentence him to two years in prison and impose a fine of 2.7 million won, stating, "He purchased and smoked marijuana four times, and the nature of the crime is not good."

Cho’s crime was revealed during the prosecution’s supplementary investigation of Kim Mo (39), a broker who was arrested and sent to prosecution on charges of marijuana cultivation last September. Kim was sentenced to two years in prison and fined 8.95 million won in the first trial.

Last January, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office Violent Crime Investigation Division (Chief Prosecutor Shin Junho) prosecuted 17 marijuana offenders (10 detained, 7 not detained), including Cho, the grandson of the founder of Korea Steel, the grandson of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products, and the son-in-law of the former chairman of JB Financial Group.