Gangnam District Councilor Lee Gwansoo of the Democratic Party Receives Suspended Prison Sentence for Refusing Alcohol Test

Third Offense for Drunk Driving-Related Punishment

Gwan-su Lee, Gangnam District Council Member

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Lee Gwansoo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Gangnam-gu, who was prosecuted for refusing to comply with the police's request for a breathalyzer test after causing a drunk driving accident, was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial. This is his third time being punished for drunk driving.

According to the legal community on the 4th, Judge Ryu Ilgeon of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 26 sentenced Lee, who was charged with violating the Road Traffic Act (refusal to take a breathalyzer test), to two years in prison with a three-year suspension. He was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and attend 40 hours of a safe driving lecture. The court stated, "The defendant has a history of multiple punishments for drunk driving but still drove under the influence again," and "Considering his refusal to comply with the police's breathalyzer request and the resulting chain collision accident, the culpability is by no means light." However, the court added, "The defendant has shown remorse and reached amicable settlements with all the accident victims."

Lee was prosecuted for causing a four-car pileup after hitting a parked vehicle while driving inside an apartment complex in Daechi-dong, Seoul, in July, and for refusing the police's request for a breathalyzer test. At the time of the accident, the police reportedly recognized that Lee was driving in a heavily intoxicated state and requested a breathalyzer test. However, Lee refused the test by demanding a blood test and did not comply with the blood test at a nearby hospital without reason. Lee was previously prosecuted in July 2008 for drunk driving and was fined 3 million won. In August of the same year, he was again prosecuted for the same charge and fined 1 million won.