Drunk Driving 20s DJ Sentenced to 10 Years in First Trial for Delivery Worker Death

A 20-year-old club DJ, Mr. An, who fatally struck a motorcycle delivery worker while driving under the influence, was sentenced to prison in the first trial.

A man in his 20s driving a Mercedes-Benz under the influence appearing for a detention hearing.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 9th, Judge Kim Ji-young of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25 sentenced Mr. An, who was detained and prosecuted on charges including dangerous driving causing death and hit-and-run injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, to 10 years in prison. The court also ordered the confiscation of the Mercedes-Benz vehicle.

Judge Kim stated, "The victim of the first accident testified that the defendant got out of the car immediately after the accident and said, 'Do I look like I drank a lot? Please just look once.' However, he did not take any action to manage the accident nor report it to the police." She added, "Despite the strong necessity to remain at the scene, the defendant left the scene within five minutes without any explanation to the victim. He failed to take the measures required under the Road Traffic Act to protect the victim and left the accident site. It is recognized that the defendant had the intention to flee at that time."

Judge Kim also noted, "Although the defendant deposited 5 million won in escrow for the first accident victim, the victim clearly expressed no intention to receive the escrow and wishes for the defendant to be punished. The bereaved family of the second accident victim reached a settlement with the defendant and submitted a letter of no prosecution, but the victim who lost their life could not express their will. These points cannot be disregarded in the case."

Mr. An was detained and prosecuted on charges of fatally striking a motorcycle delivery worker, Mr. A, while driving a Mercedes-Benz under the influence in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, last February. Investigations revealed that on the day of the incident, he crossed the center line, collided with another vehicle, fled the scene, and then struck Mr. A. At the time, Mr. An's blood alcohol concentration was 0.221%, far exceeding the license cancellation threshold.

At the sentencing hearing on the 11th of last month, Mr. An pleaded for leniency, saying, "I sincerely kneel and apologize to the victim who lost their life. I have committed a grave sin against the bereaved family who must endure pain." The prosecution demanded a 15-year prison sentence.