[Sportschosun Reporter Jung An-ji] Son Seung-won, the first celebrity punished under the Yoon Chang-ho Act, was sentenced in the first trial to one year in prison and taken into custody after his fifth drunk driving offense.
On the 11th, Judge Kim Hyeong-seok of the 5th Criminal Division of the Seoul Western District Court sentenced Son Seung-won to one year in prison on charges including drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act. The court also ordered his immediate detention, citing a risk of flight.
The court said, "He drove while intoxicated and, after being arrested in the act, instructed his girlfriend to hide the black box file. The nature of the offense is serious." It added, "Considering his very high blood alcohol level and his record of repeated criminal punishment for drunk driving, we have imposed a prison sentence."
However, the court explained, "The defendant admits his wrongdoing and is reflecting on it. No traffic accident occurred as a result of the drunk driving, and he submitted the materials after the evidence concealment was discovered." It added that it had taken into account favorable circumstances, including petitions from his family and friends.
Son Seung-won appeared in court wearing a black cap and black clothing. Immediately after the sentence was handed down, he pleaded for leniency, saying, "I deeply regret and repent for what I have done." He then asked, "If I am detained, my family will suffer the burden of supporting the household, so please allow me to prepare for the appeal trial without being held in custody." His request was not accepted.
His girlfriend, identified only by her surname Kim, was also indicted for hiding the black box storage device at Son Seung-won's request. The court issued a suspended sentence of a 1.5 million won fine.
This was the fifth time Son Seung-won had been caught for drunk driving. Last November, he was arrested in the act after driving the wrong way on Gangbyeonbuk-ro for about two minutes while heavily intoxicated, and he was indicted in February. At the time, his blood alcohol concentration was reportedly more than twice the level for license revocation, or 0.08% or higher.
Before that, he had already received summary orders for drunk driving twice in 2015. Then, in 2018, while under investigation for hitting a taxi while driving under the influence, he caused another accident while again at a level that would have led to license revocation.
At the time, the court applied the charge of dangerous driving causing injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, known as the Yoon Chang-ho Act, and sentenced Son Seung-won to one year and six months in prison.
The Yoon Chang-ho Act strengthens punishment when a drunk driving accident occurs. Son Seung-won was the first celebrity to be sentenced under the law.
anjee85@sportschosun.com
