[Exclusive] 'Asian Games Gold Medalist' Kim Yeji Booked for Refusing Breathalyzer Test After Traffic Accident

Bollard Collision and Refusal of Breath Test by Responding Police Officer
Talent Who Won Gold at Incheon Games and Silver at Jakarta Games

Women's rowing national team Kim Yeji Photo by Kim Yeji

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Kim Ye-ji (28), a rowing athlete who won a gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games, was booked by the police for refusing a breathalyzer test after causing a traffic accident.

The Suwon Southern Police Station in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 28th that Kim was booked and is under investigation for refusing a breathalyzer test under the Road Traffic Act.

Kim is suspected of causing an accident by hitting a nearby bollard while driving on a road in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, at around 11:25 p.m. the previous day, and then refusing the breathalyzer test conducted by the police who arrived at the scene.

The police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident with Kim. A police official explained, "Kim strongly refused the breathalyzer test at the scene, so she was booked on the relevant charge."

In a phone interview with Asia Economy, Kim said, "Due to health issues, I usually cannot exhale strongly, so the test did not work, and I did not intentionally refuse the breathalyzer test," adding, "There is no excuse for driving under the influence, and I deeply regret my mistake."

Regarding this, a police official explained, "Despite four attempts to conduct the breathalyzer test, she did not blow properly, and she was booked according to the relevant law."

Kim was a national rowing team athlete who won a gold medal in the women's single sculls at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and a silver medal in the women's double sculls at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. She also participated as a national representative at the 2016 Rio Olympics.