Korean ‘Best Actor’ Yoo Ah In Sentenced to One Year in Prison
Yoo Ah In, an acclaimed South Korean actor and former recipient of the prestigious Best Actor award, has been sentenced to one year in prison for drug-related offenses.
On September 3rd, at the Seoul District Criminal Court, Judge Ji Gwi Yeon delivered the verdict, sentencing Yoo Ah In to one year in prison, a fine of 2 million won, and 80 hours of drug rehabilitation. Yoo Ah In is currently in custody due to the “risk of flight.” He has the right to appeal within seven days.
Conforming to reports from the criminal investigation, Yoo Ah In purchased propofol 181 times between September 2020 and January 2023. He was also found to have smoked marijuana at an outdoor pool in Los Angeles, USA, with an acquaintance in January 2023. Additionally, the actor allegedly purchased 1,150 sleeping pills under another person’s name on 45 occasions between May 2021 and August 2022.
Propofol, a substance known for slowing brain and nervous system activity, is commonly used as an anesthetic in surgeries. However, it is classified as a psychoactive substance, similar to a mild narcotic, and its unregulated use is prohibited in South Korea.
The court acquitted Yoo Ah In of charges related to coercing others into smoking marijuana and attempting to destroy evidence on a mobile device in January 2023, citing insufficient evidence.
The sentence handed down was lower than the four-year prison term previously sought by prosecutors. The court stated, “Considering various factors, it appears that he has a severe dependency on psychoactive substances. He has suffered from long-term sleep disorders and depression.”
In addition to Yoo Ah In, six doctors who prescribed psychoactive drugs (stimulants or depressants causing hallucinations) in excessive amounts to the actor have also been prosecuted. These individuals received fines and suspended sentences and are currently appealing the verdicts.
Beyond the drug-related charges, at the end of July, Yoo Ah In was accused of sexually assaulting a 30-year-old man while the victim, referred to as A, was asleep. This allegation is still under investigation. Yoo Ah In’s legal team has denied the accusations, urging the public not to speculate on the actor’s personal life.
Several of Yoo Ah In’s projects, including the film High Five, have been indefinitely postponed. The movie, which also stars Lee Byung Hun and was directed by Kang Hyeong Cheol, centers on two legendary Korean Go players.
Yoo Ah In, 38, born Eom Hong Sik, has been a prominent figure in the South Korean entertainment industry for 20 years. He is renowned for his versatile acting skills, shining in both film and television. Movies like Veteran, Burning, and Secret Love Affair propelled Yoo Ah In to A-list status, earning him numerous awards. Notably, he became the youngest actor in history to win the Best Actor award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards with his performance in The Throne (2015), at the age of 29.
