Actor Yoo Ah-in Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Drug Charges in First Trial...
Taken into Custody

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Actor Yoo Ah-in has been sentenced to one year in prison for violating the Narcotics Control Act in his first trial and was taken into custody immediately after the verdict. The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Agreement Division 25 delivered the first trial verdict on the 3rd, shocking the Korean entertainment industry and serving as a reminder of the seriousness of drug abuse.

The court found Yoo Ah-in guilty of habitual propofol use and illegal purchases of prescription drugs under others' names.

The court stated, "The defendant was found guilty of habitually administering propofol and purchasing over 1,000 doses of prescription drugs under others' names from 14 hospitals across a span of three years."

This verdict highlights the organized and prolonged nature of Yoo Ah-in's illegal drug activities.

However, Yoo was acquitted of charges related to cannabis possession, cannabis use solicitation, and evidence tampering.

The court explained, "Although there is suspicion that the defendant may have intended to destroy evidence, there is insufficient evidence to support the claim, as the content of the deleted text messages could not be clearly verified."

This ruling reinforces the importance of evidence in criminal trials and the principle of "innocent until proven guilty."

In explaining the sentence, the court noted the severity of Yoo Ah-in’s crimes, stating, "Medical narcotics such as propofol are strictly regulated due to their addictive nature, yet the defendant exploited loopholes in the law, which shows a lack of moral awareness."

The court also emphasized that Yoo’s dependence on sedatives and marijuana indicated a deeper issue with substance abuse.

However, the court did consider Yoo Ah-in’s personal circumstances.

It was noted that he has long struggled with sleep disorders and depression, with the primary motivation for his actions being the inability to sleep. The court acknowledged his efforts to overcome his drug dependence as a mitigating factor.

This suggests that the court took a holistic approach in delivering the verdict, considering both the severity of the crime and the defendant's personal struggles.

Yoo Ah-in was indicted without detention in October last year on charges of habitual propofol use, illegal purchase of sleeping pills under another person’s name, cannabis smoking and solicitation, and evidence tampering.

According to the prosecution, he was accused of administering propofol 181 times between September 2020 and March 2022 and illegally obtaining sleeping pills 44 times between May 2021 and August 2022.

This indicates that Yoo’s illegal activities were not isolated incidents but part of a long-term, systematic pattern.

Additionally, Yoo Ah-in is facing further legal troubles as he is currently under investigation for allegations of sexual assault.
On July 14, he was accused of sexually assaulting a 30-year-old man at an officetel in Yongsan, Seoul, and was questioned by police on the 29th of last month.

The investigation is ongoing, and depending on the outcome, Yoo Ah-in’s legal situation could become even more complicated.

As a result of this ruling, Yoo Ah-in's career in the entertainment industry is expected to be on hold for a significant period. Once one of Korea's most prominent actors, Yoo's downfall has shocked fans and industry insiders alike.

There is considerable interest in his legal defense, future actions, and potential paths to a comeback.

The Yoo Ah-in case serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness of drug use in Korean society and the strict legal consequences that follow.
The public’s heightened awareness of drug use among celebrities is likely to prompt greater efforts toward self-regulation within the entertainment industry. Additionally, this case has highlighted the need to reassess and improve the management of medical narcotics.

Yoo Ah-in's situation clearly demonstrates that success and fame do not exempt one from legal and ethical responsibilities.

It remains to be seen how this lesson will be received and applied across the entertainment industry and society at large.