Male Singer Sentenced To Prison For Drunk Driving And Misleading Authorities

Renowned male singer Eru is set to face a prison sentence of one year for a drunk driving incident and an attempt to mislead the authorities by swapping drivers.

The Seoul Western District Court’s 2nd-2 Criminal Division, presided by Judge Lee Hyun Woo, upheld the prosecution’s request for the same punishment as the initial verdict: a one-year prison term and a fine of ₩100,000 KRW (about $75.20 USD).

Eru — celebrated for his contribution to the K-Pop scene in Indonesia and hailed as a national pride — was apprehended in September 2022. After an evening at a restaurant in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Eru was found driving under the influence. The situation escalated when he, alongside a 34-year-old female professional golfer, Ms. Park, attempted to deceive the police by presenting her as the driver.

Originally, Eru received a six-month suspended sentence and a fine in his first trial. However, facing the appeal, the court is reconsidering the leniency previously granted. Despite his lawyer’s appeal highlighting Eru’s status as a first-time offender, his significant contributions to national prestige, and his personal family circumstances — including a mother suffering from severe dementia — the court remained firm on the proposed sentence.

As a first-time offender who confessed to the crime, and having emerged as a leading figure in Indonesian K-Pop since his debut, he has made significant contributions to promoting national prestige.

— Eru’s Lawyer

Additionally, the singer is accused of irresponsible behavior beyond the drunk driving charge. In December 2022, he was involved in another incident where he allegedly allowed a colleague (Mr. Shin) to drive his car while intoxicated. This recklessness culminated in an accident, with Eru himself speeding at 184.5 km/h in his Mercedes.