Two-year sentence sought for Shinhwa's Shin Hye-sung

Singer Shin Hye-sung of boy band Shinhwa leaves court on Thursday [NEWS1]

The prosecution is seeking a two-year prison sentence for Shin Hye-sung, a member of K-pop band Shinhwa, after he refused a breathalyzer test when he was caught drunk-driving someone else's car last October.

The first hearing was held Wednesday at the Seoul Eastern District Court.

Shin was caught by police who arrived on the scene after receiving reports on Oct. 10, 2022, that a car was left stationary in the middle of a bridge in Songpa District, southern Seoul. The singer refused a breathalyzer test, leading him to get arrested on the spot.

Shin has been accused of stealing the car and driving it around for 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) under the influence.

Shin's attorney pleaded that his actions were due to long-term depression that Shin had not taken care of out of fear his condition would be known to the public.

"He has been suffering from anxiety disorders and depression during the 25 years he has been a part of the boy band Shinhwa," the attorney said at the hearing.

"What he did was wrong, but he is not a habitual drunk driver," the attorney said. "He has settled with the car owner, who said that they do not want Shin to be punished."

The attorney said that Shin refused the breathalyzer because he "panicked."

“I apologize for disappointing and affronting many when I should act as an example [as a celebrity]. I will take more care of myself so cases like this don’t happen in the future,” Shin said.

His sentence hearing will take place on April 20.

Shin had his license temporarily revoked back in 2007 for DUI.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]