Fans of Kim Sae-ron console, "Lee Jae-myung also has a DUI record... Don't be discouraged"

Mention of Lee in Kim Sae-ron Gallery Statement

Fans of actress Kim Sae-ron, who was sentenced to a fine for causing a drunk driving accident, mentioned Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to comfort him.

The Kim Sae-ron gallery issued a statement on the 5th, saying, "Leader Lee, who was a candidate in the 20th presidential election, was also fined 1.5 million won in the past for drunk driving, but he received national support from over 16 million people with a vote share of over 47% in the presidential election," and added, "We earnestly urge Kim Sae-ron not to be too discouraged and to quietly walk toward tomorrow."

Actor Kim Sae-ron, who caused an accident last May by hitting a roadside tree and a transformer while driving under the influence, is attending the first trial sentencing hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 5th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

They also wrote, "Leader Lee has been faithfully fulfilling his role as a representative of the Korean people and a member of the National Assembly since the arrest consent bill was rejected on February 27," and "We believe that if Kim Sae-ron returns to her original intention and sincerely reflects on her mistakes, the public will recognize her sincerity." Furthermore, they stated, "As Kim Sae-ron declared that 'such an incident (drunk driving) will never happen again,' fans also intend to humbly accept the court's judgment."

On the same day, Kim Sae-ron was sentenced to a fine of 20 million won at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 4 presided over by Chief Judge Lee Hwan-gi for violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving). The court explained the sentencing by saying, "Drunk driving is a crime that can cause serious harm to the lives, bodies, and property of others and requires severe punishment," but also considered "the defendant admitted her wrongdoing and compensated for most of the damages."

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is accused of spreading false information under the Public Official Election Act, is attending a trial held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 31st of last month. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Earlier, Kim Sae-ron was indicted for driving under the influence around 8 a.m. on May 18 last year in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, hitting guardrails and street trees multiple times. At the time of the accident, Kim Sae-ron collided with a transformer, which caused power outages for about three hours in 57 nearby stores. Investigations revealed that her blood alcohol concentration at the time of the accident was 0.2227%, significantly exceeding the license cancellation standard.

Kim Sae-ron's lawyer pleaded for leniency in a previous hearing, stating, "Not only Kim Sae-ron but also her family is suffering from financial difficulties due to this incident." However, this was soon embroiled in controversy over 'false claims of financial hardship.' Later, in a phone interview with Asia Economy, Kim Sae-ron's lawyer clarified, "The accident vehicle was her only asset from the time of the drunk driving incident," and reiterated, "The financial hardship claim is true."