South Korean Actor Yoo Ah-in Released with Suspended Sentence After Drug Abuse Charges

Yoo Ah-in (Doc. Special)

Wartagate.com - South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in has been released from prison following his detention five months ago on charges of drug abuse. The actor, whose real name is Uhm Hong-sik, was freed after receiving a suspended sentence from the appellate court on Tuesday.

During the appeal trial, the Seoul High Court sentenced Yoo Ah-in to one year in prison, suspended for two years, along with a fine of 2 million won.

"Considering the motive, method, and consequences of the crime, as well as the circumstances after the violation, the sentence imposed in the first trial was excessively harsh and unfair," the court stated, as reported by Soompi on Tuesday.

Previously, in September last year, the Seoul Central District Court had sentenced him to one year in prison, fined him 2 million won (approximately $1,400 USD), and imposed an additional fine of 1.5 million won while ordering his immediate detention.

Yoo Ah-in was indicted in October last year for drug abuse charges. He was accused of illegally using propofol, a medical anesthetic, under the pretense of cosmetic procedures 181 times at hospitals across Seoul between 2020 and 2022. Additionally, he was charged with misusing three other medical anesthetics, including midazolam and ketamine.

This decision by the appellate court marks a significant shift from the previous judgment, offering the actor a chance to serve his penalty under supervision rather than behind bars.