Former WINNER member Nam Tae-hyun has filed an appeal after receiving a prison sentence in his first trial for drunk driving committed while he was already on a suspended sentence for drug use.
According to legal sources on April 14, Nam submitted a notice of appeal to the Seoul Western District Court the same day. On April 9, the 11th single-judge criminal division sentenced him to one year in prison and a 1 million won fine for violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving), among other charges. The court did not remand him on the spot, citing no risk of flight or evidence destruction.
Nam was accused of crashing into a median barrier while driving heavily intoxicated at around 4:10 a.m. on April 27 last year near Dongjak Bridge on Gangbyeonbuk-ro toward Ilsan in Seoul. His blood alcohol concentration measured 0.122%, far above the license-revocation threshold of 0.08%. Investigators also found he was driving at 182 km/h in a zone limited to 80 km/h.
In explaining the sentence, the court said, “Although the defendant admits to and reflects on his crime, he reoffended despite a prior punishment for drunk driving.” The judge added that the offense occurred while he was on a suspended sentence for a narcotics-related case, increasing the severity of the situation. The court also noted that the high blood alcohol level and excessive speeding posed a serious risk to public safety.
Nam previously received a fine for drunk driving in 2023 and, in 2024, was given a suspended prison sentence for methamphetamine use.
After debuting with WINNER, Nam left the group and continued music activities, but a series of controversies has since affected his career.