K-pop singer Park Yu-chun released with suspended jail term
Actor and singer Park Yu-chun walks out from the Suwon District Court in Gyeonggi Province, after it has set him free on a suspended jail term on his drug charges, Tuesday. / Yonhap
By Kim Jae-heun
Actor and former member of K-pop boy band JYJ Park Yu-chun has been set free after a court sentenced him to a suspended jail term on drug charges.
The Suwon District Court, Tuesday, gave him 10 months in jail suspended for two years, and fined him 1.4 million won. It also put him on probation and ordered him to receive treatment, so he will undergo regular drug tests.
The court said illegal drug abuse should be punished severely but Park should be given a second chance.
“The defendant has confessed his offense and his drug test results, along with other evidence, proving his guilt. Narcotic-related crimes cause huge damage to individuals and society, so severe punishment is required,” the court said in the ruling.
“However, the defendant has admitted his crime and shown a reflective attitude since he has been detained. And considering that this is his first offense, it is better to hand him down a suspended prison sentence so he can have a chance to return to society.”
After hearing the final verdict, Park bowed several times to the judges and left the courtroom.
Being released from Suwon Detention Center, he told reporters that he apologized again to the people for causing stir. “I'll try to work hard and live honestly, also contributing to society,” he said.
Park shed tears and said he was sorry.
A number of Korean and Japanese fans gathered at the court building to attend the hearing. When they heard Park would be released, many of them cried.
Park had been arrested and indicted in late April for purchasing 1.5 grams of methamphetamine with his ex-fiancee Hwang Ha-na, the granddaughter of Namyang Diary Products founder Hong Du-yeong, and taking the drug together over six times between February and March.
They also took the drug between September and October last year. Hwang's verdict has yet to come.