South Korea: Nam Tae-hyun to be sentenced for DUI during probation
Seoul’s Western District Court held a sentencing hearing on a case involving Nam Tae-hyun, a former member of the K-pop group WINNER, who is charged with violating the Road Traffic Act by driving under the influence and exceeding the speed limit while under probation. The proceedings were presided over by Judge Yang Eun-sang in the court’s Criminal Division 11.
Prosecutors asked for a prison term of 1 year and 6 months and a fine of 1 million won, arguing that Nam’s DUI offense comes within two years of a prior punishment. The office noted that he had previously been punished for a DUI offense and was still under probation.
Nam’s legal team acknowledged all charges and said he cooperated with the investigation. They argued there should be leniency, noting that his prior DUI involved only a short movement of the vehicle and that it is inappropriate to classify this case as habitual recidivism. The defense stated that Nam complied with police requests, including providing urine and hair samples when requested.
The charges stem from an incident on April 27 last year at around 4:10 a.m., along Gangbyeonbuk-ro toward Ilsan, near the Dongjak Bridge in Seoul. Police reported a blood alcohol concentration of 0.122 percent, above the 0.08 percent threshold that can lead to license cancellation, and that Nam was traveling at 182 kilometers per hour in an 80 km/h zone. No injuries were reported as a result of the crash, which impacted a central divider.
Police had sought to detain Nam, but the court rejected the detention request, saying there were insufficient grounds to hold him in custody at that stage.
Nam gave a final statement saying he understands his past actions cannot be tolerated and pledged to ensure such behavior does not recur.
This case highlights Korea’s handling of DUI offenses, especially when they occur during a probation period tied to a prior drug conviction. For international readers, it underscores how South Korea pursues accountability for high-profile entertainers and how such prosecutions can influence public perception, sponsorship, and the global visibility of K-pop artists and related businesses.
NAM Tae-hyun, now 32, faces a first-instance verdict that is scheduled to be delivered on the 9th of next month. The earlier drug-related conviction referenced involves methamphetamine, for which he received a one-year prison sentence with a two-year suspended sentence in January of the previous year.