On the afternoon of September 3, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 25 (Chief Judge Ji Gwi-yeon) sentenced Yoo Ah-in to one year in prison and a fine of 2 million won for violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances). He was also ordered to complete 80 hours of drug rehabilitation education and pay an additional fine of about 1.5 million won. Yoo Ah-in’s accomplice, Choi, was sentenced to eight months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence and 40 hours of drug rehabilitation education.
The court stated, “Given the duration, frequency, method and quantity of the crimes, severe punishment is unavoidable. The defendant exploited loopholes in the regulations for medical narcotics and committed these crimes, which is particularly egregious. Considering the circumstances, it appears that the defendant has a serious dependency on psychotropic drugs, making it difficult to conclude that the risk of recidivism is low.”
The court further noted, “Despite being warned by medical professionals as early as 2021 about the dangers of excessive propofol use, the defendant continued to commit these crimes. His dependence on sedatives, sleeping pills and marijuana indicates a lack of awareness regarding the severity of drug-related issues, as well as a disregard for related regulations.” However, the court also took into account Yoo Ah-in’s honesty about his drug dependency, his ongoing efforts to address it, the absence of prior similar offenses and his lack of a criminal record.
The court expressed concerns about the possibility of Yoo Ah-in fleeing and decided to arrest him in court. Yoo Ah-in, who remained silent in response to questions from reporters upon entering the court, bowed his head after the sentencing and said, “I apologize for the concern and worry I’ve caused many people.”
Yoo Ah-in was accused of using medical propofol 181 times between September 2020 and March 2022. He was also accused of illegally purchasing over 1,100 sleeping pills using someone else’s name 44 times between May 2021 and August 2022. Additionally, he was charged with smoking marijuana with four acquaintances, encouraging others to smoke marijuana and attempting to destroy evidence.
During the final hearing on July 24, the prosecution requested a four-year prison sentence, a fine of 2 million won and an additional fine of 1.54 million won for Yoo Ah-in. The prosecution criticized Yoo Ah-in for using his influence as a famous actor and public figure to commit illegal acts, stating, “Yoo Ah-in has a social responsibility, but he used his influence to cover up his crimes, which is highly reprehensible.”
Yoo Ah-in had admitted to the drug use charges but strongly denied the charges of encouraging others to smoke marijuana and attempting to destroy evidence. His lawyer argued that Yoo Ah-in’s use of propofol and other substances was based on medical necessity, citing his history of depression, anxiety and severe sleep disorders due to his irregular lifestyle as an actor. The lawyer also highlighted Yoo Ah-in’s efforts to reflect on his actions and his commitment to ongoing psychiatric treatment.
In his final statement, Yoo Ah-in expressed deep remorse, “I deeply regret my mistakes and want to apologize to the family members, colleagues and fans who have been hurt and affected by my actions. I promise to live as a more mature and responsible person.”
Meanwhile, Yoo Ah-in was recently investigated by the police on charges of sexually assaulting a man while he was asleep in an officetel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. However, Yoo Ah-in’s lawyer denied the allegations, stating that there was no truth to them.
Source: Naver
