Death of Taiwanese International Student in Drunk Driving Incident... Driver Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] A driver who caused a drunk driving accident and fatally struck a Taiwanese international student in her 20s was sentenced to 8 years in prison in the first trial.

On the 14th, Judge Min Suyeon of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 26 sentenced Kim, who was charged with causing death by dangerous driving under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, to 8 years in prison.

Kim was brought to trial on charges of driving under the influence with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.079% near Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on November 6 last year, and fatally striking a Taiwanese woman in her 20s, identified as Ms. B. This case became known after the bereaved family posted a petition on the Blue House website urging stronger punishments for drunk driving, which was also reported by Taiwanese media.

On the day of the trial, the court stated, "The defendant drove under the influence again despite having been punished twice previously for drunk driving," and "He violated traffic signals and exceeded the speed limit, striking the victim who was crossing the crosswalk in accordance with the pedestrian signal."

It continued, "The victim, who was only 28 years old, died suddenly at a young age, and it is difficult to comprehend the shock and grief of the family who received the news of the accident from abroad," adding, "The victim’s family and acquaintances are strongly petitioning for severe punishment."

Meanwhile, it is reported that Kim pleaded for leniency, stating that the contact lens on his left eye momentarily shifted to the side at the time of the accident, and that he was unable to wear a lens on his right eye due to having undergone corneal transplant surgery.