Kim, 40, who plays Jin-Soo Kwon on the ABC drama, was arrested Oct. 25 when a police officer spotted him driving erratically in Honolulu. His blood alcohol content was 0.168, more than double the state's legal limit.
District Judge William Cardwell scolded Kim, who wore a dark, gray suit and blue shirt in court.
"You need to understand that 0.168 is more that double the legal limit. It means you were seriously impaired," Cardwell said. "And it just cannot happen again. It's simply too dangerous."
"Believe me, sir, I do," Kim replied.
Deputy Prosecutor Lisa Demello requested the maximum $1,000 fine and noted the media attention and the public interest surrounding the case.
"Mr. Kim's stature makes him a role model in the community. Therefore, the consequences of his criminal behavior must be such that it will provoke him to consider his actions before re-offending or committing another criminal offense," she said.
Kim also had his driver's license revoked for six months and was subjected to a drug-and-alcohol assessment.
"I'm just grateful and relieved that this matter has been resolved," he said after the hearing. "It's been a pretty difficult time for my family and me. But I'm glad I had a chance to take responsibility for my mistake."
Kim was the third actor on the popular castaway drama to have been arrested for driving while intoxicated in Hawaii. The other two had their characters killed off on the show soon afterward.
