The court sentenced Nam Tae-hyun, a former member of the boy band Winner, to one year in prison and a fine of 1 million won ($675) on Thursday for drunk driving while on a suspended sentence for drug use.

The Seoul Western District Court handed down the sentence on charges of drunk driving and speeding. The court did not take Nam into custody, citing no risk of flight or evidence tampering.


Nam was indicted for driving under the influence near Dongjak Bridge on the Gangbyeon Expressway in the direction toward Ilsan, Gyeonggi, on April 27, 2025.

Investigators said that he was driving 182 kilometers (113 miles) per hour on a road with a speed limit of 80 kilometers per hour before the crash. His blood alcohol level was 0.122 percent, above the 0.08 percent threshold for license revocation.

At the time, Nam was serving a two-year suspended sentence after receiving a one-year prison term in January 2024 for drug use.

“The defendant was driving at 182 kilometers per hour along the Gangbyeon Expressway and slid across lanes before crashing into a nearby wall, posing a significant risk to road safety,” the court said. “The offense is particularly blameworthy as it was committed during a suspended sentence for violating narcotics laws.”

Nam was also previously fined for drunk driving while intoxicated in March 2023, when he drove about 7 to 8 meters (23 to 26 feet) into a residential area in Gangnam District, southern Seoul.

Nam debuted as a member of the boy band Winner under YG Entertainment in 2014. He left the group in 2016 and later pursued solo work, performing with the band South Club.


This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JEONG HYE-JEONG [lee.jiwon10@joongang.co.kr]