Drunk Driver Who Took Yuyeon-su's Dream Deposits 8.2 Million Won
Judge Says "Are You Teasing?"
A man in his 30s who caused a drunk driving accident that forced former Jeju United goalkeeper Yoo Yeon-su to give up his playing career reportedly has not apologized even once in the 1 year and 5 months since the accident.
On the night of the 21st, Yoo Yeon-su said on YTN Radio's "Lee Seong-gyu's Happy Comma, Just a Moment" about the perpetrator Mr. A, "According to our lawyer, he came out of the courtroom arrogantly and confidently, only without chewing gum," adding, "I was very angry when I heard that. I was angry that he acted like that without even apologizing." He continued, "(If he appeared in court, he should have at least apologized as a matter of courtesy, but I heard he didn't even do that."
Player Yoo Yeon-su greeting fans at the retirement ceremony. [Image courtesy of the Korea Professional Football League]
Yoo Yeon-su said, "I want a sincere apology," and added, "If he can't do it in person, I wish he would at least call and apologize. There were many opportunities to make a phone call, but he never contacted me at all."
Regarding Mr. A’s appeal after being sentenced to 4 years in prison in the first trial, Yoo said, "He says 4 years is a long time. I’m not sure if I heard it correctly, but it seems he said he shouldn’t serve that much time," adding, "To me, even 4 years is too little, but he thinks it’s too much, so I just..."
He said, "Originally, the prosecutor demanded 5 years, but he was sentenced to 4 years. They say he shows signs of remorse and regrets his crime, but if he had remorse, shouldn’t he apologize to me?" He added, "Seeing that he never apologizes to me until the end, I want to keep saying that I now want even stronger punishment."
Player Yoo Yeon-su greeting fans while walking around the ground at the retirement ceremony. [Image courtesy of the Korea Professional Football League]
Earlier, the Jeju District Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Oh Chang-hoon) held the first appeal trial on the 14th for Mr. A, who was indicted on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (dangerous driving causing injury). Mr. A was sentenced to 4 years in prison in the first trial; the prosecution appealed, saying the sentence was too light, and Mr. A appealed, saying it was too heavy.
At the trial, the court criticized Mr. A for posting a bond of 8.2 million won, saying, "You posted 8.2 million won for a 25-year-old young man paralyzed from the waist down? Are you mocking the victim? Are you ridiculing him?" The next trial is scheduled for April.
Mr. A is accused of driving a car while intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.117%, which is above the license cancellation threshold, exceeding the speed limit, and crashing into another vehicle at the Gasiri Intersection in Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo City, at around 5:40 a.m. on October 18, 2022, injuring five passengers. The victim vehicle included then Jeju United goalkeepers Kim Dong-jun, Yoo Yeon-su, Lim Jun-seop, and trainers.
Among them, Yoo Yeon-su was seriously injured and underwent emergency surgery but suffered fatal injuries including paralysis of the lower body. Yoo devoted nearly a year to rehabilitation but ultimately left the field at the young age of 25 last November. In addition, Mr. A is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a state unable to resist on January 15 of last year.
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