New Delhi: Yoo Ah In, a popular South Korean actor, has been found guilty of a year of illegal drug abuse, including the prescription sleep medication propofol. Further accusations against the ‘Hellbound’ actor included buying 1,100 sleeping pills with prescriptions written in someone else's name, using marijuana, and coercing witnesses to change their statements against him.
Yoo Ah In was fined two million KRW and given a jail term of one year for violation of Narcotics Control Act on September 3. The prosecution had originally sought a four-year jail sentence. A friend of Yoo's, Mr. Choi, received a two-year probationary term and an eight-month jail sentence for marijuana usage as well.
Yoo showed regret at a previous court hearing when he said, "Whatever the (ruling) result may be, I will repay those who took care of me by becoming much healthier and more honest and by living my life as someone who can contribute to society."
In October 2023, Yoo Ah In was accused of using propofol on 181 occasions between 2020 and 2022 in the context of cosmetic procedures, which sparked his legal troubles. He and Mr. Choi were also accused of attempting to conceal their crimes by intimidating other witnesses to alter their statements, forcing them to flee the country.
Yoo Ah In's other cases
Yoo has a history of accusations involving more than just drug usage; he was also accused of sexually assaulting a 30-year-old man. The claims were disputed by Yoo's lawyer, who urged the public and media to refrain from baseless news.
Some of Yoo Ah In's most well-known credits include appearances in the critically acclaimed films ‘Punch’, ‘Secret Affair’, ‘Burning’, ‘Alive’, and ‘Hellbound’.