Yoo Ah In, star of the hit series Hellbound, has officially been convicted in a high-profile drug abuse case that rocked South Korea’s entertainment industry.
On July 3, the South Korean Supreme Court upheld a previous ruling, sentencing the 37-year-old actor—real name Eom Hong Sik—to one year in prison, suspended with two years of probation. The court found him guilty of violating the Narcotics Control Act after a prolonged legal process.
Yoo Ah In was accused of the habitual abuse of various prescription drugs, including propofol and sleeping pills. Investigators discovered he had consumed over 1,000 pills across multiple prescriptions. During the initial trial, he was arrested in court, but the sentence was later adjusted, taking into account his medical history, including a sleep disorder, and his commitment to rehabilitation.
Despite the legal turmoil, his recent film The Match—where he stars alongside Lee Byung-hun—achieved box office success. However, Yoo’s future in the South Korean entertainment industry remains uncertain amid ongoing public backlash and scrutiny.
The case has highlighted growing concerns in South Korea over celebrity drug abuse and its impact on public perception and media accountability.
