[Exclusive]'Fifth Drunk Driving' Son Seung-won Trial Enters Second Round.. Prosecution Service Submits Appeal

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Son Seung-won, who previously received a prison sentence and served time for drunk driving, was sentenced to one year in prison for the fifth drunk driving charge. The Prosecution Service has appealed the verdict.

According to StarNews, the Prosecution Service filed an appeal contesting the first-instance sentencing for Son Seung-won on charges including violation of the Road Traffic Act (hit-and-run causing injury under the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes).

Previously, on the 11th, Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 5 (Judge Kim Hyeong-seok (Director)) held a sentencing hearing for Son Seung-won's case involving charges such as violation of the Road Traffic Act (hit-and-run causing injury under the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes), sentencing him to one year in prison and ordering his immediate detention.

On that day, Son Seung-won appeared in court wearing a black baseball cap and a black top and bottom outfit. His girlfriend, Ms. Kim, who was also prosecuted for violation of the Road Traffic Act, attended court wearing a hat.

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

The court continued, "However, the defendant has late but finally admitted his wrongdoing, and fortunately, no traffic accident occurred. Considering that acquaintances and family members of the defendant pleaded for leniency, the sentence was determined." The court then urged Son Seung-won, "You must never drink and drive again."

Regarding Ms. Kim, the court announced, "She submitted the black box SD card as evidence, has resigned from her company, and has no prior criminal record. Therefore, the sentencing of punishment is suspended."

Son Seung-won, who was sentenced to prison, appealed to the court, "I fully admit the wrongs I committed and deeply regret and reflect on them. If I am detained now, my family will have to bear the responsibility of supporting me due to my mistakes. I beg for leniency." However, his plea was not accepted.

Son Seung-won was arrested red-handed last November after driving the wrong way on Gangbyeon Boulevard for about two minutes while heavily intoxicated and was brought to trial 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, "The substitute driver who got into a dispute 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 held last month, the Prosecution Service requested 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 reflection and opinion to law enforcement authorities, stating that he 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 the previous drunk driving incident last year to a bar in Hannam-dong, Seoul, and held a drinking session.

This marks the fifth time Son Seung-won was caught drunk driving. Previously, in 2018, he was prosecuted for drunk driving in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where he hit a car 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 incidents.

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 causing 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 entertainer to be punished under this law, an infamous distinction.

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*This content was translated by AI.