South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in sentenced to one year in prison for using surgical anesthetic

South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in, known for his role in “Hellbound,” was sentenced to one year in prison on Tuesday after being found guilty of illegally using propofol. According to Yonhap news agency, Yoo, whose real name is Uhm Hong-sik, was accused of using the anesthetic on 181 occasions between 2020 and 2022. The court imposed the sentence despite prosecutors’ request for a four-year prison sentence.

Details of the offence

The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Yoo had used propofol under the pretext of undergoing cosmetic surgery at professional clinics. The court found him guilty of habitual drug use, citing his disregard for regulations and lack of caution against the abuse of drug substances. “He is found guilty of all his purchases for habitual drug use,” the court said in its ruling, according to Yonhap News TV.Impact on the medical community
The case has also led to repercussions for the medical professionals involved. A doctor who administered propofol to Yoo without a valid prescription was fined 40 million won ($30,000) last month. The abuse of propofol, which is primarily used as a surgical anesthetic, has been a growing concern, with cases of the drug being used recreationally, often with the involvement of complicit medical professionals.

Yoo’s reaction and background
In court, Yoo expressed regret for his actions, saying, “I’m sorry for causing many people distress,” as reported by Yonhap. Yoo has been a prominent figure in South Korea’s entertainment industry since his debut in 2003, starring in several television dramas and films. His case is the latest in a string of drug scandals involving well-known South Korean celebrities.

Related Incidents
Similar incidents have occurred in South Korea’s entertainment industry. K-pop star G-Dragon was accused of drug use but was acquitted in November due to insufficient evidence. In a separate case, actor Lee Sun-kyun, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” committed suicide in December after being accused of illegal substance use, sparking public debate over the intensity of the investigation.Broader implications
The problem of propofol abuse has also spread to the corporate sector. In 2021, Lee Jae-yong, then vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, was fined 70 million won for illegally using the drug at a Seoul plastic surgery clinic for several years. The series of cases highlights the ongoing challenge South Korea faces in curbing the abuse of controlled substances, even among the country’s most prominent figures.

(Input from AFP)