Yoo Ah In Asks For Leniency As The Prosecution Demands A 4-Year Sentence During Appeal Trial
Prosecutors have once again requested a four-year prison sentence for actor Yoo Ah In (37, real name Eom Hong Sik) on charges of habitual drug use during the second trial.
During the sentencing hearing held on the 24th of December at the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 5 (Presiding Judges Kwon Soon Hyung, Ahn Seung Hoon, and Shim Seung Woo), prosecutors requested the court to impose the same four-year prison term as in the first trial. They also sought a fine of 2 million won [around $1000] and an additional confiscation of 1.54 million won [less than $1000].
Yoo Ah In is accused of administering propofol 181 times from 2020 to 2022 and illegally obtaining 44 prescriptions for sleeping pills under another person’s name from 2021 to 2022.
He is also accused of smoking marijuana in his accommodation in Los Angeles in January last year. When the act was exposed by a YouTuber accompanying him, he allegedly pressured the individual to smoke marijuana to make them an accomplice.
Yoo, dressed in a blue prison uniform, became emotional during his final statement, saying, “I still find it hard to cope with the shame and guilt, but I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to reflect in a way I never have before. I will make every effort to reform and recover.”
His defense lawyer appealed for leniency, stating, “Yoo faced immense stress from the pressure of meeting public expectations and maintaining his popularity. He suffered from mental health issues such as depression but was unable to receive proper treatment due to the nature of his profession as an actor. His sleep disorders were also beyond what he could overcome through personal willpower alone.”
In the first trial held in September, the court sentenced Yoo Ah In to one year in prison, stating, “Given the duration, frequency, method, and quantity of the offenses, the nature of the crimes is severe and warrants substantial criticism.” Yoo Ah In was taken into custody immediately following the ruling.
However, the court found him not guilty of the charge related to pressuring a companion to smoke marijuana in Los Angeles.
The sentencing is to be held in February 2025.
