'Caught for drunk driving five times' Son Seung-won, "Deeply regretted it" 8 years ago... Words of repentance did not work [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

Whether eight years ago or now, it is merely words of repentance. Actor Son Seung-won, who was caught drunk driving a total of five times, was sentenced to one year in prison in the first instance and was detained in court.

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

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

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

The court continued, "However, the defendant has admitted to his wrongdoing, albeit belatedly, and fortunately, no traffic accident occurred. Considering that acquaintances and family members of the defendant pleaded for leniency, the sentence was determined. The defendant is sentenced to one year in prison, and since there is a possibility that he may flee or destroy evidence, he is detained in court." The court emphasized to Son Seung-won, "You must never drive drunk again."

Son Seung-won pleaded to the court, "I admit everything regarding the wrongdoing I committed and deeply regret and repent. Currently, if I am detained, my family will have to take responsibility for my livelihood due to my mistakes. I beg for leniency," but his plea was not accepted.

Previously, last November, Son Seung-won was arrested on the spot for driving the wrong way on Gangbyeon Boulevard for about two minutes while heavily intoxicated. At the time, his blood alcohol concentration was 0.165%, which is more than double the license revocation threshold (0.08%), indicating a state of heavy intoxication.

Immediately after the incident, he lied to the police, saying, "The substitute driver who got into a dispute with me abandoned the car and left," and instructed his girlfriend, "My car is at Yongsan Police Station, so take out the black box storage device," attempting to destroy evidence. Additionally, it was revealed that he had driven with his license revoked on the 8th of last month, just before this trial, sparking public outrage.

This is already the fifth time Son Seung-won has been caught drunk driving. Previously, in 2018, he was indicted for drunk driving in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, hitting a car in front and fleeing, and was sentenced to one year and six months in prison. At the time, Son Seung-won's license had already been revoked due to three prior drunk driving incidents, and it was revealed that he had tried to pin the charges on his passenger, actor Jung Hwi, so he could not escape severe criticism.

In the trial held the following year in 2019, Son Seung-won's defense attorney pleaded, "As a young man in his 20s with vigorous energy, please allow him to fulfill his military service obligation," which immediately faced public criticism of whether this was a so-called "military run."

At that time, Son Seung-won also pleaded, "As a public figure, I am sorry for causing trouble. During the first instance and appeal, I went back and forth between the detention center and the court, reflecting and feeling great shame. I deeply felt the preciousness of my family and the wrongdoing of the crime I committed. It became a major turning point in my life. I felt the weight of the law and made a firm resolve not to make the same mistake again."

Son Seung-won, who in 2019 said he "deeply felt the wrongdoing of the crime he committed," is now, 8 years later in 2026, pleading for leniency to the court with the exact same words, "I deeply regret it." This time, Son Seung-won, who lied to cover up his crimes and even instructed his girlfriend to hide evidence, is simply pitiful for committing another offense without knowing how heavy the weight of repentance and regret should be.

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*This content was translated by AI.