On April 27, it was reported that the prosecution has filed an appeal against the "lenient" sentence handed down to Shin Hyesung, a member of Shinhwa.

Shin Hyesung (real name Jeong Pil Kyo, age 44) had been charged with violating the Road Traffic Act, including possession and use of a stolen vehicle, and the refusal of a breathalyzer test upon apprehension by police.

In the first trial held on April 20, Hyesung received a suspended prison sentence of 6 months and was placed on probation for 1 year. The prosecution had initially sought a harsher sentence of two years in prison.

According to reports, Hyesung was apprehended by the police in October 2022 after he was found sleeping in a vehicle parked in the middle of a road. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle had been reported stolen by its rightful owner, and Hyesung was found to be in possession of it. It was also discovered that Hyesung had been drinking at a restaurant in Nonhyeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and had a designated driver take him to Sungnam. However, he later drove to Songpa-gu, where he was eventually found by the police.

This is not the first time that the Shinhwa member has had a run-in with the law. Back in 2007, he was charged with driving under the influence.

Although the police had considered charging Hyesung with theft, they ultimately decided not to do so as there was no evidence that he had intended to steal the vehicle. The court's verdict acknowledged that Hyesung had admitted to all charges and that all evidence presented found him guilty. However, the evidence also indicated that there was no reported damage, and the owner of the stolen vehicle requested that Hyesung avoid punishment.