'Refusal of Alcohol Test' Jimin-gyu, Chungnam Provincial Council Member, Sentenced to Suspended Prison Term

Sentenced to 1 Year 6 Months Imprisonment with 3 Years Probation in First Trial
Court: "Refusal of Breath Test Requires Harsher Punishment Than Drunk Driving"

Jimin-gyu, a member of the Chungnam Provincial Assembly, who was prosecuted for refusing a breathalyzer test after causing a traffic accident, was sentenced to imprisonment.

On the 16th, Judge Ryu Bong-geun of the Criminal Division 5 at Cheonan Branch of Daejeon District Court sentenced Assemblyman Ji, who was charged with violating the Road Traffic Act (refusal to take a breathalyzer test), to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year probation. Along with this, he was ordered to perform 160 hours of community service and attend 40 hours of a safe driving lecture.

Assemblyman Ji is accused of driving on a road in Buldang-dong, Cheonan, around 12:15 a.m. on October 24 last year, hitting a fence and causing damage worth approximately 3 million won. He was also charged with refusing a breathalyzer test requested by police who responded to a suspicion of drunk driving.

After refusing the breathalyzer test and leaving the scene, Assemblyman Ji was arrested on the spot. At the police station, he reportedly shouted, "This is coercive investigation. Tell me the exact time of arrest and who the informant is," showing aggressive behavior.

The court stated, "The defendant did not comply with the police's breathalyzer request without justifiable reason, which is a serious offense. Refusal to take a breathalyzer test requires harsher punishment than drunk driving itself, but considering that he admitted all charges and is remorseful, and has no prior criminal record, the sentence was decided accordingly."

Assemblyman Ji said, "I apologize for causing controversy by engaging in behavior unbecoming of a legislator. I will make up for this through more sincere legislative activities."

Earlier, the prosecution had requested a sentence of 1 year and 6 months imprisonment for Assemblyman Ji last month.

Elected officials lose their position if they are sentenced to imprisonment with confinement or higher, or if they are fined 1 million won or more for violating the Public Official Election Act.