Yoo Ah-in "Will Devote All Efforts for Correction and Recovery"
In the second trial of actor Yoo Ah-in (38, real name Eom Hong-sik), who is accused of habitual drug use, the prosecution requested the same sentence as in the first trial: four years in prison.
On the 24th, the prosecution requested this during the sentencing hearing of Yoo Ah-in's case involving violations of the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances), marijuana smoking and instigation, and evidence destruction instigation, held at the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 5 (Presiding Judges Kwon Soon-hyung, Ahn Seung-hoon, Shim Seung-woo). They asked the court to "find all charges guilty."
Before the prosecution's sentencing request, Yoo Ah-in spoke with a trembling voice, deeply reflecting on his mistakes. He said, "I apologize to those who have been hurt because of me," and added, "I have caused irreparable pain to my parents who brought me into this world." He continued, "I have greatly disappointed my colleagues who placed infinite trust in me and hurt everyone who gave me excessive love," and reflected on the past two years, saying, "Since debuting at 18, it has been a time to find myself, not as a role but as myself."
Yoo Ah-in said, "It is difficult to bear the shame and guilt," but also expressed, "I humbly appreciate this opportunity for reflection, which I have never had before, and I will do my utmost to correct and recover." He mentioned feeling distressed by the severe judicial process and that facing himself is very unfamiliar and difficult.
Meanwhile, Yoo Ah-in is accused of habitually using medical propofol and other drugs 181 times between September 2020 and March 2022 at hospitals around Seoul, under the pretense of sedation for cosmetic procedures. He is also charged with illegally obtaining and purchasing over 1,100 doses of two types of sleeping pills under other people's names 44 times from May 2021 to August last year, and with smoking marijuana in the United States with Mr. Choi and others in January this year.
In the first trial on September, Yoo Ah-in was sentenced to one year in prison, fined 2 million won, ordered to complete 80 hours of drug rehabilitation education, and fined approximately 1.5 million won in confiscation, and was taken into custody in court. At that time, the first trial court stated, "Considering the period, frequency, method, and quantity of the crimes, the nature of the offense is not good and there is considerable blame," and "there is a risk of flight," thus ordering Yoo Ah-in's detention. The prosecution, which requested four years in prison, appealed citing the sentence as too lenient. At the first hearing of the appeal trial held in October, Yoo Ah-in admitted the charges but argued that he did not maliciously violate the law and that the one-year sentence given in the first trial was too harsh. The sentencing for the second trial is scheduled for February 18 next year.
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