'Fifth Drunk Driving' Son Seung-won and Girlfriend Appear in Court Together Amid 'Attempt to Destroy Dashcam Evidence' [Star Scene]

*This content was translated by AI.

'First celebrity sentenced under the Yoon Chang-ho Act' actor Son Seung-won, who previously served a prison term, has been sentenced to one year in prison for a fifth drunk driving offense.

'On the 11th, the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 5 (Judge Kim Hyeong-seok (Director)) held a sentencing hearing for Son Seung-won's case involving violations of the Road Traffic Act (causing injury while fleeing under the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes), among other charges.

'On that day, Son Seung-won appeared in court wearing a black cap and a black top and bottom. His girlfriend, Kim, who was also prosecuted for violating the Road Traffic Act, appeared at the court wearing a hat.

'The court announced, "The defendant (Son Seung-won) is sentenced to one year in prison. Given the risk of him fleeing or destroying evidence, he is ordered to be detained in court."

'Regarding Kim, the court stated, "Considering that the black box SD card was submitted as evidence, that she resigned from her company, and that she has no prior criminal record, the sentencing is suspended."

'Son Seung-won was arrested in flagrante delicto last November for driving the wrong way on the Gangbyeon Expressway for about two minutes while heavily intoxicated, and was brought to trial in February this year. It is reported that his blood alcohol concentration was 0.165%, more than double the license revocation threshold of 0.08%.

'Immediately after the accident, he lied to the police, claiming that a hired driver who had a dispute with him abandoned the car and left. He also instructed his girlfriend to remove the black box storage device, as his car was at the Yongsan Police Station, in an attempt to destroy evidence.

'At the closing arguments hearing held last month, the Prosecution Service sought a four-year prison sentence. Additionally, it was revealed that he had been caught driving with a revoked license on the 8th of last month, sparking public outrage.

'Son Seung-won submitted multiple letters of remorse and opinion statements to law enforcement authorities, stating that he had visited a hospital to address his alcohol problem and would definitely quit drinking. However, it is reported that he drove the white BMW he used during his previous drunk driving arrest last year to a bar in Hannam-dong, Seoul, and held a drinking session.

'This marks the fifth time Son Seung-won has been caught drunk driving. Previously, in 2018, he was prosecuted for drunk driving in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where he collided with a vehicle ahead and fled, and was sentenced to one year and six months in prison. At that time, his license had already been revoked due to three prior drunk driving offenses.

'The court at that time applied the so-called "Yoon Chang-ho Act" (amended Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and Road Traffic Act), which increased penalties for drivers causing personal injury through drunk driving. Son Seung-won was caught drunk driving the month after the Yoon Chang-ho Act passed the National Assembly, becoming the first celebrity to be punished under this law, an infamous distinction.'

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*This content was translated by AI.