Actor Son Seung-won, long at the center of controversy for multiple DUIs, has been sentenced to prison and was taken into custody in court.
On the 11th, the Seoul Western District Court’s Criminal Division 5 single-judge bench (Presiding Judge Kim Hyeong-seok) sentenced Son, indicted on charges including violating the Road Traffic Act, to one year in prison. Citing a risk of flight, the court remanded him immediately after sentencing.
Prosecutors said Son drove the wrong way for about two minutes on Seoul’s Gangbyeonbuk-ro last November with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.165%, more than double the license-cancellation threshold of 0.08%. He was arrested on the spot and was sent to trial in February.
During the investigation, Son allegedly gave a false statement claiming “the designated driver left the car.” He also instructed his girlfriend to hide the vehicle’s dashcam. The girlfriend received a suspended sentence on a 1.5 million won fine.
The court stated, “He drove while intoxicated and, once caught in the act, instigated the concealment of evidence, which makes the offense grave.” It added, “He drove against traffic while heavily intoxicated, denied the charges after being stopped and made false statements, and he has multiple prior DUI convictions—all of which were considered in sentencing.”
In court, Son said, “I admit all charges for what I did and I am reflecting deeply,” pleading to remain free while appealing. The request was denied.
Back in 2018, Son was indicted after a DUI crash. Later that December, he drove without a license while at a license-cancellation level of intoxication, caused an accident, and fled the scene. He was sentenced to one year and six months in prison and became the first entertainer punished under the Yoon Chang-ho Act, Korea’s toughened DUI law.