Opposing Opinions on Lawmaker Blogs and the National Assembly Bill Information System
Following the incident involving singer Kim Ho-jung (33), who was suspected of engaging in 'Sul Tagi' (a method of evading drunk driving penalties by fleeing the scene and drinking additional alcohol), criticism comments from Kim Ho-jung's fandom have been pouring in toward the lawmakers who proposed the so-called 'Kim Ho-jung Prevention Act.'
Lawmakers Using the Term 'Kim Ho-jung Prevention Act' Targeted... Fandom Flooded with Critical Comments
Singer Kim Ho-jung, who is accused of drunk hit-and-run, was being transferred to the prosecution from Gangnam Police Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the morning of May 31. [Image source=Yonhap News]
As of the 17th, over 1,300 comments were posted on the blog of Park Seong-hoon, a member of the People Power Party. This followed Park’s proposal of an amendment to the Road Traffic Act on the 24th of last month, aimed at preventing the recurrence of the 'Kim Ho-jung incident,' where the 'Sul Tagi' method was used to obstruct alcohol testing, and significantly strengthening penalties for drunk driving. Park referred to this amendment as the 'Kim Ho-jung Prevention Act' on his blog. Comments on the post included statements such as "Oppose using the singer's real name," "Take down the singer's name," "Should a young person be labeled for life for one mistake?" "Isn't proposing a law using a person's name defamation?" "Would you do this if it were your own child?" and "If you push this through, we will campaign for your defeat."
The situation was similar on the blog of Shin Young-dae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who proposed a bill on the 6th to impose penalties for 'Sul Tagi.' Although the number of comments was about 200 as of that day, fewer than Park’s blog, the content was similar. There were also instances of so-called 'coordinate targeting,' where links to Shin’s blog were posted on Park’s blog.
Opposition comments continued on the National Assembly’s legislative information system. Over 6,000 comments were posted in response to Park’s partial amendment to the Road Traffic Act, mostly opposing the bill. Similarly, more than 2,000 opposing comments were posted on a bill with a similar purpose, sponsored by Seo Young-kyo of the Democratic Party of Korea.
Attaching a Specific Person’s Name to a Bill Is Not Uncommon... It Emphasizes the Need for Amendment
It is not uncommon to attach a specific person’s name to a bill instead of using the official bill title, to make it easier for the public to recognize. The well-known 'Min-sik Law' is named after a child victim of a traffic accident and refers to an amended Road Traffic Act aimed at reducing child traffic accidents in school zones. The 'Yoon Chang-ho Law' similarly refers to the Road Traffic Act, which was strengthened following the death of Yoon Chang-ho, who was hit by a drunk driver. It is presumed that the Road Traffic Act bills proposed by lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties this time were named the 'Kim Ho-jung Prevention Act' to highlight the necessity of the amendment rather than using the official bill name.
Similar Incidents Surge After 'Sul Tagi' Method Became Known... Legislature Proposes Related Bills One After Another
Meanwhile, earlier in May, Kim Ho-jung was involved in an accident where he crossed the center line while driving under the influence and collided with a taxi. He was then suspected of causing confusion in the investigation by purchasing and drinking additional soju at a convenience store. Subsequently, the prosecution stated, "Since alcohol testing could not be conducted immediately after the accident, and the blood alcohol concentration at that time is uncertain, drunk driving charges cannot be applied." Following the 'Kim Ho-jung incident,' there has been a surge in cases where perpetrators who caused accidents while drunk driving flee the scene or drink afterward to confuse investigations.
In response, the legislature has been proposing 'Kim Ho-jung Prevention Act' bills to prevent such behavior. Park proposed an amendment to the Road Traffic Act that would impose imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 20 million won for engaging in 'Sul Tagi.' The amendment also includes provisions to revoke the driver’s license if the driver flees to avoid alcohol testing. Shin’s proposed amendment prohibits intentional additional drinking before alcohol testing and stipulates a maximum imprisonment of five years for violations.
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