Shin Hye-seong, a member of the group Shinhwa, will be sentenced in the first trial after being sent to trial on charges of driving while intoxicated in someone else's vehicle and then refusing to take a police breathalyzer test.
On the afternoon of the 20th, Judge Lee Min-ji of the 4th Criminal Division of the Seoul Eastern District Court will hold a sentencing hearing for Shin Hye-seong, who was indicted on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act (refusing to take a breathalyzer test) and illegally using a car. The prosecution requested two years in prison at the final hearing on the 6th. At the time, Shin Hye-sung admitted all the facts of the indictment.
Shin Hye-sung's lawyer said, "I am reflecting on my mistakes," and added, "I suffered from social phobia, depression, and panic disorder after working as a singer for 25 years, so I stopped broadcasting in 2021 and did not drink alcohol during that period."
He also said, "His condition recovered in the middle of last year, and on the day of the accident, he was having a meal with acquaintances whom he had not met in 13 years and was talking about his difficulties. However, due to drinking for a long time, the film was cut off and he had an accident." He added, "It is true that he was at fault, but he was suffering from physical and mental difficulties. “He explained.
Regarding driving someone else's car, he said, "It was not my intention to use the car without permission from the beginning," and "I reached an amicable agreement with the car owner."
Shin Hye-sung is accused of driving a distance of approximately 10 km while intoxicated from Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do to Tancheon 2 Bridge, Songpa-gu, Seoul on October 11 last year. The vehicle he was driving was someone else's vehicle, and Shin Hye-seong, who was caught by the police, refused to take a breathalyzer test and was arrested as a red-light criminal.
Shin Hye-sung was also booked on charges of drunk driving in April 2007. At the time, his blood alcohol content was 0.097%, which is the level for license suspension.
Taeyuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr