Drunk Driving Case Involving Assistant Professor at Seoul National University Hospital
Police Officer Off Duty Reports Drunk Driving
Driver Swap Attempted When Spotting Crackdown Scene
On the night of the 25th, police were conducting a drunk driving crackdown at the entrance to the Busan-bound lane of Seocho IC in Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Although gatherings involving drinking at workplaces or with acquaintances have decreased due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, cases of being caught by the police while driving under the influence continue to occur. Additionally, incidents of causing accidents while driving drunk have increased, indicating a decline in awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.
According to the police on the 27th, the Songpa Police Station in Seoul has booked and is investigating a man in his 40s, A, on charges of drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act, refusal to undergo a breathalyzer test, and injury under the Special Act on the Treatment of Traffic Accidents.
A, an assistant professor at a university hospital in Seoul, is accused of hitting a vehicle stopped at the intersection near Ogeum Station in Garak-dong, Songpa-gu, with the side of his car while driving under the influence at around 10:10 p.m. on the 21st. The driver of the damaged vehicle reportedly sustained minor injuries. A refused to take a breathalyzer test when the police arrived after receiving a report.
It was also reported that just before the accident, A scratched about four cars parked near a nearby apartment and drove away.
A woman in her 40s driving under the influence was also caught by a police officer on her way home from work.
B (40) drove about 6 km from Siheung-daero in Gwanak-gu to near her home on Munseong-ro on the 25th while intoxicated. A police officer from the Gwanak Police Station, who was off duty and driving home in a private car, saw B’s vehicle swaying and reported it to 112, then followed her.
When B tried to get out in front of her residence, the officer identified himself and stayed at the scene until other officers arrived. The breathalyzer test showed B’s blood alcohol concentration was at the license cancellation level.
When police arrived at a drunk driving crackdown site, a man and woman who swapped drivers were also booked.
C (41) was driving on the Metropolitan Area 1st Ring Expressway in Namyangju City at around 11:10 p.m. on the 25th when he noticed police conducting a drunk driving checkpoint at Bulamsan Tollgate and switched seats with D (39, female).
However, a nearby driver reported this to 112, exposing the crime. Moreover, D, who took the driver’s seat, was found to have a higher blood alcohol concentration.
The breathalyzer test showed that C’s blood alcohol concentration was at the license suspension level, but D’s level far exceeded the license cancellation standard of 0.08%, indicating a state of severe intoxication.
Meanwhile, according to the National Police Agency, drunk driving accidents have increased despite the COVID-19 situation. Last year, there were 17,247 drunk driving accidents, a 9.8% increase compared to 2019. The number of injuries from drunk driving rose by 8.1% to 28,063 compared to the previous year.
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