The appeal trial proceedings for actor Yoo Ah-in (real name Eom Hong-sik, 38) are coming to a close.
On the 24th, the 5th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Kwon Soon-hyung, Ahn Seung-hoon, and Shim Seung-woo) will hold a decision hearing for the appeal of Yoo Ah-in and his accomplice, Choi, who were indicted for violating the Narcotics Control Act.
Yoo Ah-in is accused of administering four types of medical narcotics—propofol, midazolam, ketamine, and remimazolam—181 times from September 2020 to March last year, and illegally obtaining over 1,100 sleeping pills through 44 prescriptions under another person's name from May 2021 to August last year. Additionally, he is accused of smoking marijuana in the U.S. with four accomplices, including his acquaintance Choi, and instructing YouTuber Kim, who witnessed the act, to smoke as well.
In the first trial held in September, Yoo Ah-in was sentenced to one year in prison, a fine of 2 million won, completion of 80 hours of drug rehabilitation education, and a forfeiture of 1.54 million won, and was taken into custody.
Earlier, during the third appeal trial held last month, the court decided to conclude the trial proceedings by stating, “We will conduct witness examinations regarding the police at the request of the prosecution.”
At that time, the prosecution stated, “During the police and prosecution investigations, the accomplice YouTuber Yang admitted to smoking marijuana with the indicted defendant. However, he still denies involvement in the escape of the perpetrator. We will request witnesses to prove this part,” and requested witness examinations of the police who had contact with Yang.
Yoo Ah-in's side stated in the appeal trial, “In trying to bring joy to the public, I neglected to take care of myself, which has severely impacted my life as an actor, and I will have to live with the public's harsh gaze in the future,” and submitted a statement regarding sentencing, asking the court to consider that “the price the defendant pays for a wrong choice accompanied by depression is far greater than what an ordinary person would face.”
He also mentioned the loss of his father in August, saying, “I will have to live with the guilt that my father passed away because of my crime,” and appealed for leniency, stating, “There can be no greater punishment than this.”
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
