Once regarded as one of South Korea’s promising acting talents, actor Son Seung Won has now seen his career overshadowed by repeated legal troubles stemming from drunk driving offenses.
On June 11, the West Seoul District Criminal Court held a sentencing hearing for Son Seung Won, who was charged with violating South Korea’s Road Traffic Act, including causing injury and fleeing the scene under laws imposing stricter penalties for specific crimes. The actor, notably, became the first celebrity to face punishment under the so-called “Yoon Chang Ho Act” after being caught driving under the influence for the fifth time.
The court sentenced Son Seung Won to one year in prison and ordered that he be taken into custody immediately following the ruling. The actor had been arrested in November last year after driving the wrong way along Seoul’s Gangbyeonbuk-ro for approximately two minutes while heavily intoxicated. At the time of the incident, his blood alcohol concentration reportedly measured 0.165%, more than double South Korea’s license revocation threshold of 0.08%.
Authorities also revealed troubling details surrounding the arrest. Following the incident, Son allegedly lied to police by claiming that a designated driver had abandoned him after an argument, despite no such driver existing. He was also accused of asking his girlfriend to remove the vehicle’s black box recording device in an attempt to destroy evidence.
The actor was formally indicted in February, with investigators later securing extensive evidence related to the case. During closing arguments last month, prosecutors requested a four-year prison sentence. Public criticism intensified further on May 8 when reports surfaced claiming Son had once again driven to a drinking gathering despite already having his driver’s license revoked.
Throughout the investigation, Son Seung Won reportedly submitted multiple letters expressing remorse and pledged to seek treatment for alcohol-related issues. He also stated his intention to quit drinking in hopes of preventing future incidents. However, this marked the fifth time he had been caught driving under the influence.
Back in 2018, Son was sentenced to one year and six months in prison after crashing into another vehicle in Seoul’s Apgujeong district while intoxicated and fleeing the scene. At the time, his license had already been revoked following three prior DUI offenses.
The court applied the “Yoon Chang Ho Act” — legislation designed to strengthen punishments for drunk driving accidents resulting in injury or death. Son Seung Won became the first celebrity to be punished under the law after being arrested just one month after its passage through the National Assembly.
Born in 1990, Son Seung Won was once considered one of the entertainment industry’s most promising rising stars. Originally trained as a musical actor, he gained recognition for his gentle image and natural acting ability, earning praise through television roles that quickly won over audiences.
Before his career came to an abrupt halt, Son appeared in popular productions including Age of Youth, Welcome to Waikiki, and Hello, My Twenties!. He also made history as the youngest actor to play the lead role in the iconic musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, while building a respected stage career through productions such as The Days and Trace U.
Despite a career once filled with promise, Son Seung Won’s repeated legal troubles ultimately brought his rise to an end. His disappearance from the Korean entertainment scene now stands as a cautionary tale about how personal choices and legal misconduct can permanently alter even the brightest careers.
Sources: K14
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