Yoo Ah-in Ultimately Heads to the Supreme Court... Prosecution Appeals Suspended Sentence

Sentence Reduced to Probation in Second Trial
Prosecution Appeals to Supreme Court

The prosecution has appealed to the Supreme Court after actor Yoo Ah-in (real name Eom Hong-sik, 39), who was tried on charges of habitual drug use, was sentenced to probation and released in the second trial.

According to the legal community on the 21st, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office filed an appeal against the appellate court's ruling that sentenced Yoo Ah-in, who is accused of violating the Narcotics Control Act, to probation.

Previously, the appellate court overturned the original ruling that sentenced Yoo Ah-in to one year in prison and instead sentenced him to one year in prison with a two-year probation. He was also ordered to pay a fine of 2 million won, a supplementary fine of 1,548,000 won, complete 80 hours of community service, and attend 40 hours of drug treatment lectures. Accordingly, Yoo Ah-in, who had been detained at Seoul Detention Center, was released after five months of custody.

The court stated, "Medical narcotics are strictly controlled by law due to their addictive nature, but the defendant committed the crime by arbitrarily using the names of family and acquaintances exploiting loopholes in the management methods," adding, "The nature of the crime is serious and there is much room for criticism."

However, the court explained the reason for the reduced sentence, saying, "It appears that the defendant committed the crime due to long-term sleep disorders and depression, suffering from the pain of not being able to sleep properly," and "He seems to have largely overcome drug dependence and pledged not to reoffend." Additionally, the court considered as favorable factors that he reflected on his crime during over five months of detention and that he has no prior record of similar offenses.

Actor Yoo Ah-in, who was indicted on charges of habitual propofol abuse, is attending the first trial sentencing held last September at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

Yoo Ah-in is accused of administering four types of medical narcotics?propofol, midazolam, ketamine, and remimazolam?a total of 181 times from September 2020 to March 2022. From May 2021 to August 2023, he also illegally obtained and purchased about 1,100 sleeping pills through 44 prescriptions under other people's names. Additionally, in January last year, he is accused of smoking marijuana in the United States with acquaintance A and others and instructing others to smoke as well.

Meanwhile, concerns are emerging that the release of the movie Seungbu, starring Yoo Ah-in and scheduled for release in March, may face delays again due to Yoo Ah-in's court schedule. The film, originally planned for release in 2023, was temporarily postponed due to Yoo Ah-in's drug use trial.