Yoo Ah-in Appeals One-Year Prison Sentence for Drug Use, Citing Harshness
Yoo Ah-in Appeals One-Year Prison Sentence for Drug Use, Citing Harshness
Actor Yoo Ah-in, who was charged with habitual drug use, has appealed his one-year prison sentence, arguing that it is excessively harsh. During the first appeal hearing at the Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 5, Yoo's lawyer stated that the actor did not maliciously violate the law. The defense argued that Yoo became dependent on sedatives due to extreme physical and mental stress and had been seeking psychiatric help to address his sleep disorders healthily before the investigation began. They further claimed that despite significant progress in overcoming his dependency, the original sentence was unduly severe. Yoo Ah-in was indicted last October for allegedly using medical propofol 181 times under the guise of cosmetic procedures between September 2020 and March 2022 in Seoul. He also faces charges for illegally obtaining sleeping pills 44 times under another person's name from May 2021 to August 2022. Additionally, he is accused of smoking marijuana three times in the U.S. with Choi and others in January last year and encouraging others to smoke. The first trial sentenced Yoo to one year in prison, citing the severity of the crime based on the duration, frequency, method, and quantity of the offenses, although he was acquitted of the marijuana encouragement charge. Choi, a friend of Yoo and charged with violating the Narcotics Control Act, received an eight-month prison sentence with a two-year probation. Reporter: Ryu Ye-ji, TenAsia ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr