Yoo Ah-in Partially Admits Marijuana and Propofol Charges... Denies Evidence Tampering Instruction

Second Trial... Famous YouTuber Denies Charges of Encouraging Marijuana Smoking

Actor Yoo Ah-in (real name Eom Hong-sik), who was indicted on charges including habitual drug use, admitted to marijuana smoking and propofol use charges during the second trial. However, Yoo's side denied the charges of instructing marijuana smoking and instructing evidence destruction.

Actor Yoo Ah-in, accused of habitual drug use. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25-1 (Presiding Judges Park Jeong-gil, Park Jeong-je, Ji Gwi-yeon) held a trial on the 23rd for Yoo, who is accused of violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances) and other charges.

Yoo's lawyer stated, "As a public figure living a life under public scrutiny, he has long suffered from depression, panic disorder, and sleep disorders. He acknowledges and deeply regrets that he developed a dependency on sleep anesthetics while undergoing various medical procedures, and that the drug use occurred under such circumstances."

However, the lawyer added, "He only received prescriptions for sleep anesthetics in conjunction with medical procedures, never solely for anesthetics, and the choice of anesthetic was made under the professional judgment of the attending physician."

He also admitted to purchasing the sleep medication Stilnox under a family member's name. However, he maintained that "the purchase was made by presenting a prescription to a pharmacist."

The lawyer acknowledged that Yoo smoked marijuana with an acquaintance, Choi (33). However, he denied charges of encouraging marijuana smoking to a famous YouTuber and instructing evidence destruction.

Yoo is accused of using propofol 181 times between 2020 and 2022 and illegally obtaining sleep medications 44 times under another person's name between 2021 and 2022.

He is also charged with encouraging marijuana smoking to accomplices after being exposed while smoking marijuana in the United States and instructing an acquaintance to destroy evidence.