다섯번째 음주운전 배우 손승원, 항소심서 징역 2년…1심보다 늘어

Court sentences successful actor Son Seung-won (36) to two years in prison, one year longer than the one-year sentence handed down in the first trial. Judge Bong-jung Woo of the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Appeals 1st Division increased Son Seung-won's original one-year imprisonment for violating road traffic laws (driving under the influence) to two years.

His girlfriend, Kim Ah-mi, faces a potential fine of 1.5 million won for concealing evidence. The court noted that Son Seung-won intentionally hid the black box SD card, which contained incriminating evidence, and that he provided excessively positive statements when questioned. The court stated that the driver recklessly traveled 7 kilometers while severely drunk and made a dangerous U-turn on Yongducheon-ro.

Despite previous convictions for drunk driving, Son Seung-won was sentenced more leniently in the first trial. However, his later admission of guilt, the lack of a traffic accident, and the fact that the evidence was eventually revealed were considered positive aspects. Son Seung-won was arrested in November last year after drunkenly driving the wrong way along Yongducheon-ro, with his blood alcohol content more than double the legal limit (0.08%).

During the police investigation, Son Seung-won denied the accusations and claimed that he had parted ways with the other driver. The prosecution argued that Son Seung-won's numerous prior offenses and the risk of re-offending warranted a more severe punishment, leading to the judge's decision to increase the sentence to two years.