On April 13 KST, the Seoul Eastern District Court upheld the initial court ruling given to Shinhwa member Shin Hyesung (44), who was charged with operating a stolen vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. 

Previously, Shin Hyesung was found sleeping inside a car parked in the middle of a road at around 1:40 AM on October 11, 2022. When the police who arrived on the scene requested a breathalyzer test, the singer refused. Afterward, the police discovered that the vehicle Shin Hyesung was found in had been reported stolen by its owner. 

According to Shin Hyesung’s legal representative, “In his drunken state, Shin Hyesung believed that his car keys were in his bag. He then found that the door to a nearby vehicle was unlocked, and mistook it for his own vehicle.” 

During the initial trial, the Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced Shin Hyesung to 1 year of probation, based on the fact that Shin Hyesung admitted to all charges and there was no reported damage. The owner of the stolen vehicle had anlso asked for the defendant to avoid punishment after a settlement. 

Although the prosecution appealed the court’s decision, claiming it to be too lenient, the appeal has now been dismissed and Shin Hyesung’s sentence finalized. 

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