Seoul, en.SERU.co.id — Actor Son Seung-won has been sentenced to one year in prison for his fifth drunk driving offense. The Seoul Western District Court handed down the ruling today (11/6/2026) in the first trial and ordered him detained right there in the courtroom.
The court found the 36-year-old guilty of violating the Road Traffic Act after he was caught driving under the influence in November 2025. Judge Kim Hyung-seok, who presided over the case, cited the seriousness of the incident, including Son’s attempts to hide evidence.
In November of last year, Son was arrested on the spot after driving in reverse for about two minutes on the Gangbyeonbuk-ro elevated highway in Seoul. His blood alcohol level was 0.165% — more than double the legal limit of 0.08%. It marked his fifth DUI offense.
Once in custody, he told police a false story, claiming his designated driver had left the car after an argument. He then asked his girlfriend, identified as Kim (30), to remove the dashcam memory card to destroy the evidence. She was charged separately, received a 1.5 million won fine, and got a suspended sentence.
The judge didn’t hold back in explaining the decision:
“He drove while intoxicated and, upon being arrested as a flagrant offender, instructed his girlfriend to conceal evidence such as the dashcam, making the nature of his offense serious.”
The court also pointed to Son’s repeated history of drunk driving, the high alcohol level, and his initial denial and false statements. While they noted some leniency factors, such as his eventual admission, the lack of any accident, and letters of apology from family and acquaintances, it wasn’t enough to avoid jail time.
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After hearing the verdict, Son asked the court not to detain him:
“I admit all the mistakes I have made and I am deeply sorry and repentant for my actions. If I am detained, my family will suffer as they will have to bear the burden of living. Please allow me to prepare for the second trial without detention.”
The request was denied.
The case has drawn fresh criticism online, with many questionings how he ended up repeating the same mistake after already serving time and being blacklisted from the industry.
This is only the first-trial verdict. Son can still appeal to a higher court.
*(Sources: Yonhap News Agency, JTBC News, Herald Economy, Seoul Economic Daily, Star News Korea, and other major Korean media reports)
