South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in arrives for his trial on alleged drug use at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on September 3, 2024. - A high-profile South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in was found guilty on September 3, of illegal use of the anaesthetic drug propofol and handed a one-year jail term, the Yonhap news agency reported. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)


S Korean actor Yoo Ah-in sentenced to one year for propofol abuse 


Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1725347438018090324_Yoo Ah-in.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in arrives for his trial on alleged drug use at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on September 3, 2024.  Jung Yeon-je, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in arrives for his trial on alleged drug use at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on September 3, 2024. <em>Jung Yeon-je, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>SEOUL, South Korea — High-profile South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in was found guilty Tuesday of illegal use of the anesthetic drug propofol and handed a one-year jail term, the Yonhap news agency reported.</p><p>Yoo, whose real name is Uhm Hong-sik, was accused of using propofol on 181 occasions between 2020 and 2022. The drugs were administered at professional clinics, under the guise of having cosmetic procedures done.</p><p>The prosecution had sought a four-year sentence for the &quot;Hellbound&quot; actor, but the Seoul Central District Court handed the 37-year-old a one-year jail term, Yonhap reported.</p><p>&quot;He is deemed guilty of all his purchases for habitual drug use,&quot; the court stated in its ruling, according to Yonhap News TV.</p><p>The court said Yoo had committed the offences &quot;in disregard of relevant regulations&quot; and displayed a &quot;lack of caution against drug substances&quot;.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IZgM7AxSIuM?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>A doctor who administered propofol to Yoo without a proper prescription was fined 40 million won ($30,000) last month.</p><p>Propofol, while primarily used as a surgical anaesthetic, is sometimes abused recreationally, often with the involvement of medical professionals who may be willing to provide it without a legitimate clinical need.</p><p>An overdose of the drug was cited as the cause of pop star Michael Jackson&#x27;s death in 2009.</p><p>&quot;I am sorry for having caused concern to many people,&quot; Yoo was quoted as saying in court by Yonhap.</p><p>Yoo rose to stardom in the South following his debut in 2003, starring in a range of television dramas and films across genres, and becoming one of the country&#x27;s most recognizable actors.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/11/17/21/beliefs-clash-in-chaotic-world-of-k-drama-hellbound"><strong>READ: Beliefs clash in chaotic world of Korean series ‘Hellbound’<br/></strong></a></div><p>This trial marks the latest drug scandal to hit South Korea.</p><p>In a similar incident, K-pop star G-Dragon faced allegations of drug use and was questioned by police, but the case was dropped in November due to insufficient evidence.</p><p>Actor Lee Sun-kyun, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film &quot;Parasite&quot;, took his own life in December after being accused of illegal substance use, sparking public outrage over what many perceived as an excessive investigation by the police without substantial evidence.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/8/25/busan-film-festival-to-posthumously-honor-parasite-actor-lee-1142"><strong>READ: Busan film fest to posthumously honor &#x27;Parasite&#x27; actor Lee Sun-kyun<br/></strong></a></div><p>Lee Jae-yong, then vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics, was convicted in 2021 of illegally using propofol and was fined 70 million won. He was found guilty of repeatedly receiving the anaesthetic at a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul on numerous occasions over several years.</p><div><em>For more news and features on K-pop, K-drama, and K-stars, visit the </em><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/kcontents"><em>Hallyu Corner</em></a><em> microsite.</em></div>

<p>High-profile South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in was found guilty Tuesday of illegal use of the anaesthetic drug propofol and handed a one-year jail term.</p>

High-profile South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in was found guilty Tuesday of illegal use of the anaesthetic drug propofol and handed a one-year jail term.

Korean actor Yoo Ah-in jailed for 1 year for drugs | ABS-CBN

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

Showbiz

Korean actor Yoo Ah-in jailed for 1 year for drugs

Korean actor Yoo Ah-in jailed for 1 year for drugs

Agence France-Presse

Published Sep 03, 2024 03:11 PM PHT

|

Updated Sep 03, 2024 04:43 PM PHT

Read More:

K-content

Yoo Ah-in

drugs

illegal drugs

South Korea

ABSNews

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Advertise with Us

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.