From 'Baedal Cheongnyeon' to 'Daeri Gisa Gajang'... Unjust Victims of Drunk Driving

Despite Strengthened Crackdowns, Drunk Driving Persists
40s Man Working Two Jobs to Pay Daughter's Academy Fees, 20s Food Delivery Worker Dies

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Shortly after a man in his 20s who worked as a food delivery motorcycle driver died in a drunk driving accident, another tragic incident occurred where a father in his 40s, who was working a second job as a designated driver to earn tuition fees for his two young daughters, was hit and killed by a vehicle driven by a heavily intoxicated driver.

According to the Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju on the 9th, a man in his 30s, identified as Mr. A, has been booked and is under investigation on charges of causing death by dangerous driving under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes after hitting and killing a pedestrian on a traffic island while driving under the influence.

Mr. A is accused of hitting and killing Mr. B, a man in his 40s, who was on a pedestrian island at the intersection of Heukseon Intersection in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, around 3:30 a.m. on the 8th while driving under the influence. At the time of the accident, Mr. A’s blood alcohol concentration was measured at 0.174%, which is above the license cancellation threshold. During the police investigation, Mr. A reportedly stated that he did not recognize the pedestrian island.

The deceased, Mr. B, is said to have had a wife and two elementary school-aged daughters. Mr. B, who was an office worker, reportedly began working as a designated driver at night starting last year after the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to make a living.

Earlier, on the 26th of last month, a man in his 40s driving a passenger car while evading a police drunk driving checkpoint in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, hit and killed a man in his 20s who was riding a delivery motorcycle.

Despite intensified police crackdowns, drunk driving accidents continue to occur everywhere, leading to calls for stronger punishments against drunk drivers.