“Drunk Driving” Shin Hye-sung Sentenced To 2 Years In Prison On Appeal

The prosecution requested two years in prison in the appeal trial for Shin Hye-seong (45, Jeong Pil-kyo), a member of the group Shinhwa, who was sentenced to probation in the first trial on charges of drunk driving. Shin Hye-sung bowed her head, reflecting again on her past mistakes.

On the morning of the 15th, the 3rd Criminal Division (Appeals) of the Seoul Eastern District Court held the first appellate trial of Shin Hye-seong, who was indicted on charges such as violating the Road Traffic Act (refusing a breathalyzer test). Her trial against Shin Hye-seong took place about 11 months after the first trial sentence was handed down on April 20 last year. Previously, the prosecution had appealed against the first trial ruling that sentenced Shin Hye-seong to a suspended prison sentence.

The prosecution, which raised an unfair sentencing claim, also requested a two-year prison sentence in the appeal trial, as it did in the first trial. The prosecution said, “The defendant drove drunk again even though she had a history of being punished for drunk driving,” and she said, “Even though she was so intoxicated that she couldn’t control her body, she drove a vehicle and refused to take a breathalyzer test. Her crime was bad.” He explained.

However, Shin Hye-sung’s lawyer said her prison sentence was too harsh a punishment and asked that her prosecution’s appeal be dismissed.

Shin Hye-seong’s side as a defendant said, “She is deeply reflecting and remorseful for her mistakes even though she is a public figure who has a lot of influence on the public,” and she asked the court for leniency. Shin Hye-sung also said in her final statement that “she is deeply remorseful and reflecting” and that she “will never let something like this happen again. She is truly sorry.”

Shin Hye-sung appeared in court with her lawyer today wearing a black hat and covering her face with a mask. She remained silent when asked by reporters about her prosecution’s appeal. She also showed a reflective attitude during her appeal trial, unable to properly raise her head.

According to the prosecution, Shin Hye-sung is accused of drinking alcohol at a restaurant in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on October 10, 2022, and then driving 13 km to Tancheon Bridge 2 in Songpa-gu while drunk the next day. Immediately after boarding, she was driven by a substitute driver called by her passenger, but after dropping off the passenger at the destination, she drove herself and fell asleep while stopped.

At the time of the incident, the police responded to a report that “a vehicle was stopped in the middle of the road” and asked Shin Hye-sung to take a breathalyzer test, but it is known that Shin Hye-sung refused. Additionally, controversy arose as it was revealed that the vehicle Shin Hye-sung was riding at the time was someone else’s vehicle that had been reported stolen.

Accordingly, the police investigated Shin Hye-sung to see if she was suspected of theft, but her intention to steal the car was not proven, so she was charged with illegal use of a car.

In her final statement in the first trial, Shin Hye-sung cried and said, “I am sorry for disappointing many people even though I have to show an example. I will reflect on myself so that something like this will never happen again.” Shin Hye-sung’s lawyer said, “I am reflecting on my wrongdoing,” and added, “I suffered from panic disorder, depression, and social phobia while working as a member of Shinhwa for 25 years. After 2021, my symptoms worsened, so I stopped broadcasting and went into seclusion. Of course, I also drank during this period.” He appealed for leniency, saying, “I didn’t do anything at all.”

Her court sentenced Shin Hye-seong to six months in prison and one year of probation.

The court said, “The defendant admits all the facts of the case and the evidence submitted is also recognized as guilty. Refusing to take a breathalyzer test is an act of refusing to measure blood alcohol content itself, which is the core of handling a drunk driving case, and is not a light crime in itself. “There is reason to admit that the defendant was drunk driving at the time, and the crime is worse than the drunk driving itself,” the ruling ruled.

However, the court said, “The defendant has acknowledged everything in the investigative agency and shown an attitude of remorse, no human or material damage occurred, the owner of the vehicle does not want to be punished, and his past drunk driving history was in 2007, so the fine exceeds the limit.” “The fact that there is no criminal punishment was an advantage,” he said.

Shin Hye-sung was also booked on charges of drunk driving in April 2007. At the time, she found that his blood alcohol level was 0.097%, which is the level for a license suspension.

Meanwhile, Shin Hye-sung’s appeal sentencing is scheduled to be held on April 12.