'First Celebrity Convicted Under the Yoon Chang-ho Law' Son Seung-won Sentenced to One Year in Prison.. Pleads for Leniency, "Family Must Support Themselves" [Star Scene]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Son Seung-won was sentenced to one year in prison for his fifth drunk driving offense and was ordered to be detained in court. Son pleaded with the court to spare him from detention, but his request was denied.

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

The court stated, "The defendant (Son Seung-won) has admitted to all charges and is found guilty. The defendant was caught red-handed while driving the wrong way on Gangbyeon Boulevard while heavily intoxicated. He instructed his girlfriend, Ms. Kim, to hide the black box evidence, made false statements, and had a very high blood alcohol concentration. Therefore, a prison sentence is unavoidable."

The court further explained, "However, the defendant has late but finally admitted to his wrongdoing, and fortunately, no traffic accident occurred. Considering that acquaintances and family members of the defendant pleaded for leniency, we have determined the sentence. The defendant is sentenced to one year in prison, and due to the possibility of fleeing or destroying evidence, he is ordered to be detained in court."

Son Seung-won, who was sentenced to a prison term, pleaded to the court, "I fully admit to the wrong I committed, deeply regret it, and reflect on it. If I am detained now, my family will have to take responsibility for my livelihood due to my mistake. I beg for leniency." However, his plea was not accepted.

Son Seung-won was caught red-handed last November for driving the wrong way on Gangbyeon Boulevard for about two minutes while heavily intoxicated and was transferred to court in February this year. It is reported that his blood alcohol concentration at the time was 0.165%, more than double the license revocation threshold of 0.08%.

Immediately after the incident, he lied to the police, claiming, "A taxi driver who started a fight with me abandoned the car and left," and instructed his girlfriend to remove the black box storage device, as his car was at the Yongsan Police Station, attempting 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 was caught driving with a revoked license on the 8th of last month, just before this trial, 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 ensure he would not cause any more alcohol-related issues 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 Son Seung-won's fifth drunk driving offense. Previously, he was indicted in 2018 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, Son Seung-won's license had already been revoked due to three prior drunk driving offenses.

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

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*This content was translated by AI.