[Sportschosun Jo Min-jung] Actor Son Seung-won will face the court's ruling over his fifth drunk-driving charge.
Judge Kim Hyeong-seok of the Criminal Division 5, Seoul Western District Court, will hold a sentencing hearing at 2 p.m. on the 11th for Son Seung-won, who was indicted on charges including violating the Road Traffic Act for drunk driving.
Son Seung-won was arrested in November last year after driving the wrong way while intoxicated on Gangbyeonbuk-ro in Seoul. Investigators found that his blood alcohol concentration was 0.165%, far above the 0.08% threshold for license revocation. During the investigation, Son said, "The designated driver left the car behind," but that account was later reported to be false. Investigators also found evidence that he asked an acquaintance to retrieve the car's black box storage device.
The Prosecution Service had sought four years in prison at the previous hearing.
Son's side submitted letters of reflection and written statements, asking for leniency. However, the case drew more controversy after it was also revealed during the trial that he had driven without a license. He had already been caught driving under the influence several times before this case. In 2015, he received summary orders for drunk driving twice, and he was caught again for drunk driving in 2018. In December that same year, he caused an accident while driving without a license and heavily intoxicated at a level that would have led to license revocation, then fled the scene. He was later sentenced to prison.
At the time, the court applied the so-called Yoon Chang-ho Act, which strengthened penalties for drunk driving. Son Seung-won became the first celebrity to be sentenced under the law.
Meanwhile, Son Seung-won made his debut in the 2009 musical "Spring Awakening" and appeared in dramas such as "Hello, My Twenties! 2" and "Welcome to Waikiki."
Jo Min-jung mj.cho@sportschosun.com
