Korean Actor Jailed for Fifth DUI Offense Amidst Deceptive Tactics

A Korean actor, who previously served prison time as the first celebrity punished under the 'Yoon Chang Ho Act' for drunk driving, has received a new sentence for his fifth DUI offense. This marks a significant escalation in his legal troubles.

On the 11th, the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 5 sentenced Son Seung Won to one year in prison. He was found guilty of multiple charges, including violations of the Road Traffic Act, specifically involving hit-and-run injuries under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

Son Seung Won was apprehended last November after driving erratically while heavily intoxicated. His blood alcohol concentration at the time was 0.165%, more than double the legal limit for license cancellation. His actions showed a blatant disregard for public safety.

Adding to the severity of his offenses, Son Seung Won attempted to deceive authorities. He initially lied to the police, falsely claiming a designated driver had abandoned his vehicle. Furthermore, he instructed his girlfriend to remove the car's black box data recorder, a clear attempt to destroy evidence.

Despite submitting letters of remorse and expressing intentions to seek treatment for alcohol dependency, reports indicate that Son Seung Won continued to drive and drink after his previous arrest. He was reportedly seen driving the same vehicle involved in a prior incident to a bar shortly after being caught.

This latest sentence brings Son Seung Won's drunk driving offenses to a total of five. In 2018, he received a one-year and six-month prison sentence for a drunk driving incident that involved a hit-and-run. Notably, his license had already been revoked at that time due to three prior DUI violations.

The 'Yoon Chang Ho Act,' which significantly increases penalties for drunk drivers causing casualties, was applied in his case. Son Seung Won gained notoriety as the first celebrity to be punished under this stricter legislation, enacted shortly after the National Assembly passed it.