On Tuesday, high-profile South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in was convicted of illegally using the anesthetic drug propofol and sentenced to one year in prison, according to Yonhap news agency.
Yoo, whose real name is Uhm Hong-sik, was found guilty of using propofol on 181 occasions between 2020 and 2022. He received the drug at professional clinics, often under the pretense of undergoing cosmetic procedures.
While the prosecution had requested a four-year sentence for Yoo, known for his role in “Hellbound,” the Seoul Central District Court imposed a one-year jail term.
The court stated that Yoo was guilty of all charges related to habitual drug use, highlighting that he disregarded regulations and displayed a “lack of caution against drug substances,” Yonhap News TV reported.
Additionally, a doctor who administered propofol to Yoo without a valid prescription was fined 40 million won ($30,000) last month.
Propofol, primarily used as a surgical anesthetic, is sometimes misused recreationally, often involving medical professionals who administer it without a legitimate clinical need. The drug was notably linked to the death of pop star Michael Jackson in 2009 due to overdose.
In court, Yoo expressed remorse, stating, “I am sorry for having caused concern to many people.”
Yoo, who gained fame in South Korea following his 2003 debut, has starred in a variety of television dramas and films, becoming one of the country’s most recognizable actors. This case adds to a series of drug scandals in South Korea.
In a similar case, K-pop star G-Dragon faced drug use allegations but was cleared by police in November due to insufficient evidence. Actor Lee Sun-kyun, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” took his own life in December after being accused of illegal substance use, leading to public outrage over the perceived excessive investigation by police without substantial evidence.
In 2021, Lee Jae-yong, then vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics, was convicted for illegal propofol use and fined 70 million won. He was found guilty of repeatedly receiving the anesthetic at a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul over several years.