Prosecutors seek 3 years in prison for Chun Woo-won, grandson of Chun Doo-hwan

Former President Chun Doo-hwan\'s grandson, Jeon Woo-won, who was indicted on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act, attends a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on Jan. 31. Yonhap

Prosecutors asked the court for three years in prison for Chun Woo-won (pictured), former president Chun Doo-hwan’s grandson, who is suspected of taking drugs. Criminal Agreement Division 24 (presiding judge Choi Gyeong-seo) of the Seoul Central District Court held the first hearing on the case of Chun Woo-won, who stood trial for violating the Narcotics Control Act on October 31.

The prosecution said, “The defendant purchased and administered a large amount of drugs for a considerable period of time and showed himself taking the drugs to an unspecified number of people on YouTube Live, causing social controversy. However, we took into consideration the fact that he confessed to the crime and is a first-time offender,” and asked the court to sentence him to three years in prison with a fine of 3.38 million won.

Chun is charged with taking LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) a dozen times between October 2022 and March 2023 at an apartment in Long Island City, New York.

He is also accused of smoking marijuana a total of fifteen times from November 2022 to March 2023, handing over 25,000-1.05 million won to drug dealers in exchange for LSD, MDMA (ecstasy), ketamine, and marijuana on multiple occasions. Prosecutors filed the indictment against Chun without detaining him last month in light of his admission of guilt and his remorse.

In his closing statement, Chun, who appeared in court in a black suit, appealed to the court for leniency, saying, “I have done so much wrong, and I regret my mistakes every day.” “This has shown me how drugs can cloud a person’s judgment, and I will never make the same mistake again,” he said, adding, “I hope you will be lenient so that I can give back to society and become a useful person.”

Chun’s attorney also asked for a probationary sentence, considering that Chun was a first-time offender and had voluntarily returned from the United States and confessed.

The courtroom was packed with supporters who came to support Chun. They stood by his side as he left the courtroom, chanting phrases such as “Hang in there” and “We support Chun Woo-won’s declaration of conscience.”

Chun’s sentencing will be held at 10 a.m. on December 22.