South Korea’s top court on Thursday upheld a suspended prison term for actor Yoo Ah-in, who has been convicted of habitual drug use for using propofol and marijuana.
The Supreme Court’s first division confirmed a lower court’s ruling that convicted the 39-year-old actor, whose legal name is Uhm Hong-sik, of the charges and sentenced him to one year in prison suspended for two years and a fine of 2 million won ($1,470). Prosecutors indicted Yoo for violating the Narcotics Control Act, illegal use of marijuana and instigating others to use the drug.
Prosecutors said, between September 2020 to March 2022, Yoo received a supply of sedatives by falsely claiming to be undergoing cosmetic procedures despite visiting multiple clinics in Seoul.
According to prosecutors, over approximately 181 visits, he consumed roughly 9.6 liters (2.5 gallons) of propofol, 567 milligrams (0.02 ounces) of midazolam, 11.5 milligrams of ketamine and 200 milligrams of remimazolam.
They also accused him of acquiring about 1,100 tablets of two types of sleeping pills under other people’s names through 44 different occasions from May 2021 through August 2023.
Yoo traveled to the United States last January with an acquaintance known by his surname Choi, and smoked the drug there, the investigators said. Yoo also reportedly urged others to smoke the drug.
Yoo was sentenced to one year in prison by a district court and taken into court custody in September. But in February, an appellate court lowered his sentence to three years in prison on probation, clearing the way for his release.
The court had previously pointed to several circumstances that mitigated the atrocity at the time.
“He had long-term insomnia and depression that seemed to push him to commit these crimes. He has also largely managed to overcome his drug problem and has promised not to re-offend. The court also took into account that he has spent more than five months in detention contemplating his wrongdoing,” the ruling said.
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