Actor Yoo Ah-in (real name Eom Hong-sik, 39) has been released after receiving a suspended prison sentence in his appeal trial, and his movies are expected to be released one after another. ‘Seungbu’ (directed by Kim Hyung-joo) has already confirmed its release in March, and discussions regarding the release of ‘High Five’ have cautiously resumed.
The distributor of the movie ‘High Five’ (directed by Kang Hyung-cheol) stated on the 18th to Maeil Business Star Today, “We are carefully monitoring the current situation of the lead actor and are in discussions regarding the movie's release,” adding, “Nothing has been decided yet. We are in close discussions.”
‘High Five’ tells the story of five rookie heroes who accidentally gain superpowers and encounter those who seek their abilities. The film features Yoo Ah-in, Lee Jae-in, Ahn Jae-hong, Ra Mi-ran, and Kim Hee-won.
‘Seungbu’, which garnered attention as the first film featuring Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in, focusing on Go players Cho Hun-hyun and Lee Chang-ho, has already confirmed its release date for March 26.
The film depicts the story of the legendary Go player Cho Hun-hyun (played by Lee Byung-hun) who, after losing to his disciple Lee Chang-ho (played by Yoo Ah-in), challenges himself to return to the top. Filming was completed in 2021, and it was initially scheduled to be released on Netflix in 2023, but the release was continuously postponed due to Yoo Ah-in's trial for propofol use. Ultimately, it shifted from Netflix to a theatrical release, with By4M Studio handling the distribution. Director Kim Hyung-joo, known for ‘The Sheriff’, took the helm, with director Yoon Jong-bin contributing to the screenplay.
Meanwhile, actor Yoo Ah-in (real name Eom Hong-sik, 39), who faces charges of habitual drug use, was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the appeal trial held on the afternoon of the same day.
The 5th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Judges Kwon Soon-hyung, Ahn Seung-hoon, and Shim Seung-woo) sentenced Yoo Ah-in to one year in prison, with a two-year suspension, and a fine of 2 million won for violations of the Narcotics Control Act. The prosecution had sought a four-year prison sentence.
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 in the first trial in September last year and was taken into custody. Following the suspended sentence in the second trial, Yoo Ah-in will be released from detention.
Yoo Ah-in is accused of using four types of medical narcotics, including propofol, midazolam, ketamine, and remimazolam, 181 times from September 2020 to March 2022, and illegally obtaining over 1,100 sleeping pills through 44 prescriptions under other people's names from May 2021 to August 2023.
Additionally, he is also accused of smoking marijuana in the U.S. with four accomplices, including an acquaintance named Choi, and instructing YouTuber Hairmon, who witnessed the act, to smoke.
