Yoo Ahin Smiles Next to Bong Joonho... Surprise Update Revealed

First Update on Yoo Ahin in Two Months Since Trial

The current status of actor Yoo Ahin (38, real name Uhm Hongshik), who received a suspended prison sentence for habitual drug use, has been made public.

On the 3rd, DJ Peggy Gu posted a photo on her Instagram Story with the caption, "Fav director! Director Bong, love you." In the photo, Peggy Gu is sitting next to director Bong Joonho, making a flower-cup pose. Next to Bong Joonho, a man who appears to be Yoo Ahin is seen smiling while wearing a hat.

Peggy Gu, Bong Joonho, Yoo Ahin. Peggy Gu Instagram

The photo has since disappeared. This is due to the nature of the Story feature, which automatically deletes posts after 24 hours.

Although the photo is gone, the update on Yoo Ahin-revealed for the first time in about two months-quickly spread through online communities.

Netizens who saw the photo reacted with comments such as, "I didn't even know he was out," "Is he making a comeback already?" "Isn't indoor smoking prohibited?" "Unbelievable," and "This is shocking."

This is the first time Yoo Ahin's status has been reported in the two months since his trial. As the photo spread, speculation about his possible return to acting began circulating online.

Yoo Ahin was put on trial for administering medical narcotics, including propofol, 181 times from September 2020 to March 2022, and for illegally obtaining over 1,100 sleeping pills on 44 occasions under someone else's name from May 2021 to August 2022. He was also charged with smoking marijuana with an acquaintance in the United States in January 2022 and inciting another acquaintance to smoke as well.

Last September, Yoo Ahin was sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of 2 million won in his first trial and was taken into custody. On appeal, his sentence was reduced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, and a fine of 2 million won, leading to his release after five months. In July of this year, the Supreme Court finalized the verdict, stating, "All of the prosecutor's appeals are dismissed."