Yoo Ah-in's second trial wraps up Dec. 24; sentencing expected early next year

The appeal trial of actor Yoo Ah-in, who was sentenced to one year in prison in the first trial for habitual drug use, will conclude on Dec. 24. On Dec. 28, the Seoul High Court held the third hearing of the appeals against Yoo and his acquaintance Choi to discuss whether to change the prosecution's case with key witnesses.

The prosecution made some amendments to the indictment based on statements made by YouTuber Yang, and requested to call relevant police officers as witnesses. The defense rejected this as unnecessary, but the trial court decided to call one police officer as a witness.

Yoo was charged with receiving 181 doses of propofol between 2020 and 2022 and illegally prescribing sleeping pills. He was found guilty in the first trial but acquitted of conspiracy to possess marijuana.

The court will next hear closing arguments and witness statements, and a final sentence is expected early next year.