"Five instances of drunk driving + poor criminal conduct": Son Seung-won sentenced to two years in prison on appeal..Sentence increased from first trial [Star Scene][Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Son Seung-won, who was sentenced to one year in prison at the first trial on charges of drunk driving, received a two-year prison sentence at the second trial following an appeal by the Prosecution Service.

On the 13th, Seoul Western District Court's First Criminal Division (Appeal) (B) held a sentencing hearing for Son Seung-won's appeal regarding violations of the Road Traffic Act (hit-and-run causing injury under the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes), among other charges.

Previously, during the closing arguments, the Prosecution Service had requested a four-year prison sentence for Son Seung-won, while the first-trial court sentenced him to one year in prison last month. Following this, the Prosecution Service appealed, arguing that the sentencing was inappropriate, and again requested a four-year prison term for Son Seung-won at the second trial.

Son Seung-won, who remained in custody during the trial, appeared in court wearing prison attire once again today. His head was shaved very short, and he appeared noticeably thin due to weight loss.

The judge stated to Son Seung-won: "Although the defendant has shown remorse for his crime somewhat belatedly, in this case, he was arrested with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.165%, which exceeds the threshold for license revocation, and instructed his girlfriend to submit the black box SD card, demonstrating poor criminal conduct."

The judge continued: "The defendant also made false statements claiming that the hired driver fled after an argument. He also drove against traffic on Gangbyeon Boulevard while heavily intoxicated. Having already been punished three times for similar offenses, he is now being punished again for this incident."

The judge declared: "We accept the prosecutor's appeal. The original verdict is overturned, and the defendant is sentenced to two years in prison." Son Seung-won listened with a gloomy expression.

If Son Seung-won disagrees with this ruling, he may file a petition for retrial within seven days.

In his final statement earlier, Son Seung-won said: "At the first trial, I admitted to all charges and accept that I am being imprisoned as punishment for my actions. Throughout my incarceration, from the moment I wake up in the morning until I fall asleep at night, I have been filled with regret and self-blame." He also added: "During the remainder of my sentence, I will spend time in repentance and accept my punishment. When I am eventually released into society, I will live diligently for my family and will not make the same mistake again."

Son Seung-won was arrested on the spot last November after driving against traffic on Gangbyeon Boulevard while heavily intoxicated for about two minutes, and was brought to trial in February this year. At that time, his blood alcohol concentration was reported to be 0.165%, more than double the threshold for license revocation (0.08%). Immediately after the incident, he falsely told police that the hired driver had abandoned the vehicle and instructed his girlfriend to remove the black box storage device, among other actions indicating an attempt to destroy evidence.

This marks the fifth time Son Seung-won has been caught for 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. He was sentenced to one year and six months in prison at that time. At the time, his license had already been revoked three times due to prior drunk driving offenses. Consequently, Son Seung-won became the first entertainer to be punished under the so-called "Yoon Chang-ho Law" (amended Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and Road Traffic Act).

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*This content was translated by AI.