On August 9, 2019, actor Son Seung Won (Hello, My Twenties!) found out his year-and-a-half prison sentence for a hit-and-run DUI has been upheld.
This was his second court appeal trial. He initially received his year-and-a-half sentence by the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District on April 11, 2019. On April 15, 2019, the defense filed an appeal, while the prosecution—which initially wanted a four-year sentence—also filed an appeal on April 18, 2019.
The case stems from a December 26, 2018 DUI arrest where Son drove into another vehicle then fled the scene on foot. At the time of his arrest, his blood alcohol level was 0.206 percent. The DUI was Son’s fourth DUI arrest. On November 18, 2018, Son’s license was revoked as punishment from an August 3, 2018 DUI arrest. In addition for being charged with a DUI hit-and-run, he also received charges for driving without a license.
For the December 26 incident, the passengers in the vehicle he hit sustained injuries. His passenger, actor Jung Hwi, was unhurt, but he released an apology letter and stepped down from his musical performances.
During Son’s appeal, court officials overturned a decision to rule Son Seung Won as not guilty of danger caused by reckless driving, a decision rendered from the first trial. The court also looked at Son’s settlement with the victims, thus ruling that his initial year-and-a-half sentence was just. The punishment remains. While rendering his verdict, the judge also took Son’s prior arrests into consideration.
“The fact that Son Seung Won drove while drunk in August [2018] and then again in December shows that he disregarded the law. He must be punished with a strict sentence,” the judge said.
“From the time after the first trial up until my appeal, I felt guilty and reflected on my wrongdoings. I feel as though I learned a lot about life during the past six months. I regretted living my life badly, and I came to learn how precious and valuable family is,” Son said during the appeals process.
—-Olivia Murray
