Korean Actor Sentenced After Multiple Drunk Driving Incidents and Outlandish Behavior
Son Seung Won is facing controversy again for his fifth DUI offense.
The Seoul Western District Court sentenced him to one year in prison and detained him immediately. This decision came on June 11 after charges including hit-and-run and drunk driving violations.
Son Seung Won was caught last November driving heavily intoxicated. He drove the wrong way on Gangbyeonbuk-ro for about two minutes with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.165%, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08%.
The controversy began as he lied to police right after the crash, saying his designated driver had abandoned the car. He also told his girlfriend to remove the black box from the police station to destroy evidence.
At the prosecution’s closing argument last month, a four-year prison sentence was demanded. Fans and the public were outraged after it was revealed Son drove while his license was revoked just before the trial.
Despite submitting multiple letters of remorse and saying he will quit drinking and seek treatment, reports say he drove to a bar after a previous DUI last year.
This is Son Seung Won’s fifth DUI offense. Back in 2018, he was already sentenced to 18 months for drunk driving and fleeing the scene in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam. At that time, his license had already been revoked for three previous offenses.
The court applied the “Yoon Chang Ho Act,” which increases penalties for drunk driving causing casualties. Son Seung Won was the first celebrity punished under this act when it passed the National Assembly last year.
“He drove in the wrong direction on Gangbyeonbuk-ro for about two minutes while heavily intoxicated.” – Seoul Western District Court statement
“He lied to the police and tried to destroy evidence immediately after the accident.” – Prosecutors
Son’s repeated offenses have sparked widespread backlash online with calls for stricter enforcement.
The case is being closely monitored as Son Seung Won begins serving his sentence.