[Exclusive]Drunk driving five times, destruction of evidence: One-year prison sentence? 'Actual prison term' Son Seung-won appeals [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Son Seung-won, who had been imprisoned multiple times for drunk driving offenses, was placed in judicial custody after being sentenced to one year in prison for his fifth drunk driving charge. However, the Prosecution Service has appealed the ruling.

According to StarNews, the Prosecution Service filed an appeal on the 16th, contesting the first-instance sentencing results 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).

Previously, on the 11th, the Seoul Western District Court 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), sentencing him to one year in prison and ordering his immediate judicial custody. During the prior closing arguments, the Prosecution Service had requested a four-year prison term.

Son Seung-won was caught in the act in November 2025 after driving in the wrong direction on Gangbyeon Boulevard while heavily intoxicated for about two minutes, and was subsequently brought to trial in February this year. His blood alcohol concentration was reportedly 0.165%, more than double the license revocation threshold of 0.08%. Furthermore, immediately after the incident, Son allegedly lied to police, claiming that a hired driver who had been involved in a dispute had abandoned the vehicle and left, and instructed his girlfriend to remove the black box storage device from his car at the Yongsan Police Station, attempting to destroy evidence.

Son Seung-won submitted multiple letters of remorse and opinion documents stating that he had visited a hospital to address his drinking problem and would definitely quit drinking. However, it was reported that he drove the white BMW he used during his 2025 drunk driving arrest to a bar in Hannam-dong, Seoul, and held a drinking session. Even more outrageously, it was revealed that he was caught driving with a suspended license on the 8th of last month, just before this trial.

At the time of sentencing, Son Seung-won appeared in court wearing a black baseball cap and a black top and bottom. His girlfriend, Kim, who was also prosecuted for violation of the Road Traffic Act, appeared in court wearing a hat.

The judge stated, "Son Seung-won has admitted to all charges, and we have determined him to be guilty. The defendant was caught in the act after driving in the wrong direction on Gangbyeon Boulevard while heavily intoxicated and instructed Ms. Kim to hide black box evidence. He also made false statements, and his blood alcohol concentration was extremely high. Therefore, a prison sentence is unavoidable." The judge added, "Fortunately, no traffic accident occurred, and he has admitted to his wrongdoing, albeit belatedly. We have considered the appeals for leniency from his acquaintances and family in determining the sentence."

Sentenced to prison, Son Seung-won appealed to the court, saying, "I fully admit to the wrongs I have committed and deeply regret and reflect upon them. If I am currently detained, my family will have to take responsibility for my livelihood due to my mistakes. I beg for leniency."

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

The court at that time 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 National Assembly passed the Yoon Chang-ho Law, becoming the first entertainer to be punished under this law, an infamous distinction.

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*This content was translated by AI.