Park Sunae, Blood Alcohol Concentration 0.251% at Time of Drunk Driving Detection, 'License Cancellation' Level

Kwon In-sook "Suspicious Circumstances in Probation Decision... Unfit to Lead Ministry of Education"
Park Soon-ae "Unexcusable Mistake, Humbly Accepting Criticism"

Park Soon-ae, a member of the Political, Judicial, and Administrative Subcommittee of the Presidential Transition Committee, is briefing on the working public service society at the Transition Committee press conference hall in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 26th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] It has been revealed that Park Soon-ae, the nominee for Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, was in a state of severe intoxication far exceeding the license cancellation standard when caught for drunk driving in 2001.

According to materials submitted by the Supreme Court to Rep. Kwon In-sook of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 5th, Park was caught by police for drunk driving around 11 p.m. on December 17, 2001, on roads in the Jung-gu area of Seoul.

At that time, Park's blood alcohol concentration was 0.251%, which was 2.5 times higher than the license cancellation standard of 0.1% at that time.

Under the current Road Traffic Act, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.2% or higher is punishable by imprisonment for not less than 2 years and not more than 5 years, or a fine of not less than 10 million won and not more than 20 million won.

The prosecution filed a summary indictment against Park on February 18 of the following year for violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving), and Park's side appealed the summary fine order and requested a formal trial.

The Seoul Central District Court postponed the sentencing of a 2.5 million won fine on September 12 of the same year.

At the time of the drunk driving incident, Park was an assistant professor in the Department of Public Administration at Soongsil University, but it is not confirmed whether the school took disciplinary action after the incident.

Rep. Kwon pointed out, "The fact that Park has a history of drunk driving itself is problematic, but the fact that she was caught driving in a practically intoxicated state is very shocking," adding, "It is also suspicious that she received a suspended sentence despite the blood alcohol concentration level warranting the highest level of punishment."

She continued, "From this year, those disciplined for drunk driving are permanently excluded from recommendations for principal appointments, strengthening awareness of drunk driving in the teaching community," and added, "Is a candidate with a history of severe drunk driving qualified to be the head of the Ministry of Education responsible for everything from kindergarten, elementary, and secondary education to universities and lifelong education? This is not an issue that can be ended with the 'candidate's reflection'."

Park acknowledged that she received a suspended sentence for drunk driving but did not disclose detailed circumstances or reasons.

In a statement released through the Ministry of Education’s hearing preparation team that afternoon, Park said, "It was an inexcusable mistake on my part, and even after 20 years, I deeply reflect on it," adding, "I sincerely apologize for causing concern to the public."

The hearing preparation team explained, "Park was given leniency by the court considering all circumstances at the time, but she clearly recognizes that this cannot be a moral exemption and has a stance to humbly accept criticism."