Three DUI Offenses Without a License in 5 Months... 50-Year-Old Man Sentenced to Prison

Caught Drunk Driving 11 Times Over Past 12 Years
Court Recognizes Recidivism Risk and Orders Imprisonment

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] A man in his 50s who repeatedly drove under the influence without a license after having his license revoked due to multiple DUI offenses was sentenced to prison.

On the 27th, according to the legal community, Judge In Jin-seop of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21 sentenced Kim (52), who was indicted on charges including violation of the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving), to 1 year and 2 months in prison. The court stated, "The defendant appears to have a significantly lacking sense of lawfulness, so strict punishment is necessary," but also noted, "Considering that no traffic accidents occurred due to drunk and unlicensed driving." Kim was taken into custody in court that day.

Kim was prosecuted for driving a motorized bicycle (electric kickboard) while intoxicated without a license for about 900 meters in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in May of this year. Under the Road Traffic Act, an electric kickboard requires a driver's license to operate. At the time of drunk driving, his blood alcohol concentration was 0.098%, which is at the license cancellation level. Nevertheless, Kim's drunk driving did not stop. From June to September, he was re-indicted for driving a motorcycle and an electric kickboard twice while intoxicated. The court consolidated all these cases for trial.

The court recognized the habitual nature of Kim's drunk driving due to its repetition. Previously, Kim's license was revoked in 2007 for drunk driving, and until October last year, he was caught driving under the influence without a license 11 times, receiving fines and suspended sentences. The court judged, "Despite the defendant's past punishments, he again drove under the influence without a license," and added, "Considering that he continued to drive under the influence without a license during the investigation and trial process, the risk of reoffending is high."