Korean Actor Yoo Ah-in Sentenced To A Year In Prison Over Drug Charges, Detained In Courtroom

SEOUL, Sept 3 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- Actor Yoo Ah-in was sentenced to one year in prison on Tuesday (Sept 3) for habitually abusing illegal drugs and was immediately put under detention, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The 38-year-old actor, whose latest works include the Netflix dark fantasy series "Hellbound," faces charges of illegally using propofol, a medical anaesthetic, under the pretext of cosmetic procedures on 181 occasions between 2020 and 2022.

He was also accused of abusing three other medical anaesthetic drugs, including midazolam and ketamine.

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Charges against him also include buying about 1,100 sleeping pills with prescriptions under other people's names, smoking marijuana while in the United States in January, and coercing accomplices to withdraw testimonies against him.

The Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday sentenced the actor, whose legal name is Uhm Hong-sik, to one year behind bars and imposed a fine of 2 million won (US$1,490).

The court convicted him of illegal drug purchases and abuse but found him not guilty of attempting to destroy evidence or coercion, citing insufficient evidence.

Yoo was immediately detained on the court's order after standing trial without physical detention. The actor attended the ruling in a black business suit and briefly smiled during the session before being escorted to a detention facility with a blank expression.

Prosecutors had demanded a four-year prison term.

"(Yoo) appears to have little concerns about drugs, relying on anaesthetics and sleeping pills and smoking marijuana despite doctors' warnings," the court said.

"His reliance appears to be serious, and it's difficult to say that he has a low risk of reoffending," it said.

In previous court hearings, Yoo said he has long suffered from depression, panic and sleep disorders due to his life as a celebrity, acknowledging his reliance on anaesthetics.

Yoo also expressed deep remorse for his wrongdoings, adding, "Whatever the (ruling) result may be, I will repay those who took care of me by becoming much healthier and more honest and by living my life as someone who can contribute to society."

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP