On the morning of November 19, the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul High Court held the second appeal hearing for Yoo Ah-in and his acquaintance Choi, accused of violating the Narcotics Control Law.
Currently serving a prison sentence after his first trial, Yoo Ah-in appeared in court with a shaved head, wearing mint prison clothes and glasses.
Yoo Ah-in’s lawyer pointed out several mitigating factors, including the recent death of his father, the high price Yoo Ah-in paid as a public figure compared to an average individual, and his status as a criminal for first time.
The lawyer stated: “Yoo Ah-in has dedicated himself to bringing joy and inspiration to the public, often neglecting his own well-being. His life as an actor has suffered greatly and the consequences he faces due to his poor choices are much more severe than what an ordinary person would endure..”
Referring to the death of Yoo Ah-in’s father in August, the lawyer continued: “The defendant experienced the pain of losing his father during these proceedings. He feels an enduring sense of guilt, believing that his actions contributed to his father’s worsening health. There can be no greater punishment than this burden of guilt.”
The lawyer also reiterated that the initial sentence was overly harsh and disputed the prosecution’s claim that Yoo Ah-in used his wealth to use drugs in places where investigating authorities could not reach. They admitted his wrongdoing and expressed deep remorse, but refuted the allegation that his marijuana smoking was facilitated by his financial situation, arguing that it was simply an act of curiosity while traveling abroad.
Furthermore, the lawyer argued that Yoo Ah-in’s use of propofol was necessitated by cosmetic procedures related to his acting profession. They also denied allegations that he attempted to silence others or hinder the investigation, pointing out that the original trial had found the defendant not guilty of inciting the destruction of evidence.
Meanwhile, Yoo Ah-in allegedly administered a total of 9,635.7 ml of propofol, 567 mg of midazolam, 11.5 ml of ketamine and 200 mg of remimazolam in 181 cases at 14 clinics. He was also accused of illegally purchasing more than 1,100 pills of the sleeping pills Stilnox and Xanax using the identities of others, including his father and older sister, on 44 occasions.
Source: Daum
