Actor Yoo Ah In's recent appeal for leniency in a drug-related trial following the death of his father in August has sparked significant backlash.

On November 19, which was the second appeal trial at the Seoul High Court, Yoo's legal team took into consideration his father's passing when they requested a lesser sentence.

In the first trial, Yoo (real name Um Hong-sik, 40) was sentenced to one year in prison for violation of the Narcotics Control Act.

He was immediately taken into custody after the verdict was announced in court. Specifically, his appeal claims the sentencing was erroneous and unjust.

You expressed an apology in court over his supervision case and ran, "What bigger sanction would there be than to lose father?

But this emotionally sounding appeal has received widespread public criticism. Commenters on Korean community forum theqoo were less than delighted, with opinions running the full spectrum.

One user added: "If you are feeling guilty, the punishment should be worse. What sort of lenience is this?"

A third wrote, "You bring your dead ass daddy to ask for forgiveness? It's beyond unfilial piety."

Another criticized Yoo's contrition, asking, "Did a drug user feel for his father? It's really ridiculous."

A third user said, "A plea to be let off lighter is a real punishment — the guilt over what he did is what will get him."

Some critics question this argument, reminding us that we are all ultimately responsible for the decisions we make and that people cannot be judged on their upbringing.

Many commenters perceived Yoo's appeal as a form of legal sophistry. "Don't you have to pay for your sins?" one user questioned.

But even after the backlash, some of Yoo's supporters felt bad for his predicament. One user wrote:"He has a lot on his plate right now -- perhaps we should take a step back and think about the human component of this."

While the public is divided on the issue, the court has yet to announce a decision on Yoo's appeal in weeks.