South Korean Actor Yoo Ah-in Released After Suspended Sentence
South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in walked free on Tuesday after receiving a suspended sentence related to the illegal use of the anaesthetic drug propofol, the Seoul High Court confirmed.
Yoo, whose birth name is Uhm Hong-sik, faced accusations of using the drug 181 times between 2020 and 2022 under the pretext of cosmetic treatments at medical clinics.
A lower court had previously sentenced him to one year in prison and fined him two million won ($1,400), citing his disregard for drug regulations. However, the high court overturned the decision, opting for a suspended one-year sentence, a two-year probation period, and maintaining the fine.
“The initial ruling was deemed excessive considering the motive, method, and consequences of the offense,” the judge stated, according to court reports.
Prosecutors had originally sought a four-year jail term for the actor, who gained international recognition for his role in the Netflix series Hellbound.
In a related case, a doctor who provided Yoo with propofol without proper authorization was fined 40 million won last year.
Propofol, commonly used as a surgical anaesthetic, has been misused recreationally in some cases, often involving medical professionals. The drug was notably linked to the 2009 death of pop icon Michael Jackson.
Yoo, 38, has been a prominent figure in South Korea’s entertainment industry since his debut in 2003, starring in various films and television dramas. In a court appearance last year, he expressed remorse, saying, “I’m sorry for causing concern to so many people.”
