‘Burning’ actor Yoo Ah-in avoids prison — will he return to the screen after drug scandal?
Yoo Ah-in / Xportsnews
Actor Yoo Ah-in, who had been facing charges for habitual drug use, was sentenced to a suspended prison term after a 19-month legal battle. The decision has reignited questions about his potential return to the entertainment industry.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court's first division, presided over by Justice Ma Yong-joo, dismissed the prosecution's appeal and upheld a lower court's decision, which gave Yoo a suspended sentence under the Narcotics Control Act.
In September last year, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoo to one year in prison and fined him 2 million won ($1,450), ordering his immediate detention in court on concerns he might leave the country.
The prosecution, which had originally sought a four-year prison term, appealed the ruling, requesting a heavier sentence. Yoo’s legal team also appealed, citing factual errors and disproportionate sentencing.
During the appellate trial in February, the court did not accept the prosecution’s arguments due to a lack of evidence. It instead reduced the original sentence to one year in prison, suspended for two years, along with the same fine, effectively releasing Yoo.
The appeals court acknowledged the seriousness of the charges, including 181 counts of drug use involving medications such as propofol, midazolam, ketamine and remimazolam. However, it also considered mitigating factors such as Yoo’s long-standing insomnia, his five-month detention, his remorse and the fact that he was a first-time offender.
Just before the appeal verdict, Yoo's previously unreleased film “The Match” — co-starring Lee Byung-hun — confirmed its theatrical release, drawing attention. The film, which had been postponed due to Yoo’s drug scandal, premiered nationwide on March 26. Another delayed film, “Hi-Five,” was released on May 30.
While his co-stars carried out promotional activities for both films, Yoo remained out of the spotlight as he awaited the Supreme Court’s final ruling.
In a letter submitted before the appeal ruling, Yoo offered an apology to his parents, colleagues and the public. “I deeply regret all my wrongdoings. Though I’ve lost much, I’ve also gained valuable lessons (from my time in detention). I sincerely ask for a chance to show my will to live with purpose. I will face the world with caution, sincerity and strength. I will not give in to temptation and will return as a healthier, more mature person,” he wrote.
Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the suspended sentence, attention turns to whether Yoo will resume his acting career — especially as other stars involved in drug scandals have eventually made comebacks after periods of self-reflection.
Yoo had been accused of repeatedly abusing hospital-administered anesthetics under the pretense of getting cosmetic procedures, receiving 181 doses of four different substances. He also faced allegations of using fake prescriptions, encouraging acquaintances to use marijuana and attempting to destroy evidence, though he has denied these charges.
This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.