Jung Woo-taek Calls for Stronger Punishment and Approaches to Prevent Recidivism
People Power Party to Promote as Party Policy
Kim Ki-hyun "Considering Devices on All Vehicles"
Legislation mandating the installation of ignition interlock devices on vehicles of habitual drunk drivers is being promoted. Following increased social awareness due to recent child fatalities caused by drunk driving in school zones, Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the People Power Party, experienced the ignition interlock device firsthand and is pushing for the legislation as a party policy, accelerating related legislative efforts.
On the 28th, Jeong Woo-taek, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly (People Power Party), announced that he had introduced a bill to amend the Road Traffic Act containing these provisions.
The amendment raises disqualification periods according to types of drunk driving and mandates that those whose licenses have been revoked due to two or more drunk driving offenses must only operate vehicles equipped with drunk driving prevention devices. The prevention device is installed in the vehicle and prevents the engine from starting if the alcohol concentration measured by the breathalyzer exceeds a certain threshold.
Deputy Speaker Jeong stated, "Along with the strengthened penalties for drunk driving implemented in 2019, a preventive approach to stop repeat offenses is necessary," explaining the legislative intent.
According to the lawmaker’s office, major European countries including 36 U.S. states have introduced ignition interlock devices for drunk driving. In France, installation of ignition interlock devices is mandatory on all buses, including school buses, where safe driving is especially required.
Following a fatal incident last year in Seoul and another in April in a school zone in Daejeon where an elementary school student was hit and killed by a drunk driver, interest in raising drunk driving penalties and introducing ignition interlock devices has grown. Notably, South Korea’s drunk driving recidivism rates remain high at 43.7% in 2019, 45.4% in 2020, and 44.8% in 2021, with offenders who violated drunk driving laws three or more times accounting for 19.7% of all violations, indicating a high proportion of habitual offenders.
Earlier, on the 26th, Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the People Power Party, visited the Mapo Police Station in Seoul to test the ignition interlock device and assess its effectiveness. At the event, Kim expressed his intention to promote the measure as party policy. He said, "There have been discussions about whether at least those with a history of drunk driving should be required to have ignition interlocks, or whether the devices should be installed more broadly on all vehicles. I believe we need to go beyond mere discussion and take a step forward."
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has established sentencing guidelines for traffic accidents in school zones. Starting in July, causing a child’s death by drunk driving in a school zone can result in a maximum prison sentence of 26 years. Previously, there were no sentencing guidelines for school zone traffic offenses, but going forward, minor injuries will be punishable by fines ranging from 3 million to 15 million won, and aggravated factors such as serious injury or reckless driving can lead to up to 5 years in prison. Fatal accidents may result in sentences ranging from 1 year and 6 months to 8 years. Sentences for hit-and-run drunk driving in school zones may increase significantly. If a drunk driver (with an alcohol concentration of 0.2% or higher) causes a fatal accident in a school zone and flees, they may face up to 23 years in prison, and if they abandon or flee the scene, up to 26 years in prison.
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