BREAKING: Yoo Ah-in Released as Court Reduces Prison Sentence in Drug Case

South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in (real name Uhm Hong-sik, 37) has been released from prison after his one-year jail sentence was reduced to a suspended sentence in an appeal trial.

On February 18, the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 5 (Presiding Judge Kwon Soon-hyung) overturned his initial sentence, instead handing down a 1-year prison term with a 2-year suspension and a ₩2 million ($1,500) fine.

Charges & Investigation Findings

Yoo Ah-in was convicted of habitual drug use, including:

181 illegal injections of medical-grade propofol under the pretense of cosmetic procedures (Sept. 2020 - Mar. 2022)

Illegally obtaining 1,100 sleeping pills under another person’s name (May 2021 - Aug. 2022)

Smoking marijuana three times in the U.S. with acquaintances in January 2023

First Trial & Appeal Decision

In September 2023, Yoo was sentenced to one year in prison and immediately taken into custody. The court also ordered him to complete an 80-hour drug rehabilitation program. However, he was acquitted of allegations related to witness tampering and encouraging others to use marijuana due to insufficient evidence.

The appeals court’s decision to reduce his sentence to probation allows Yoo Ah-in to be released immediately. The ruling acknowledges the seriousness of his drug use but also considers mitigating factors, leading to a lighter sentence.

This development has sparked mixed public reactions, with some questioning the leniency of the court's decision in high-profile drug cases.