Court: "Little Concern Over Evidence Tampering"
A pre-arrest warrant for a YouTuber involved in a fatal traffic accident caused by live-streaming a chase of a vehicle suspected of drunk driving was dismissed.
Suspect A, the 'Drunk Driving Hunter' YouTuber, appeared for pre-arrest interrogation. Photo by Yonhap News
According to the Gwangju Police Agency on the 13th, the Gwangju District Court dismissed the pre-arrest warrant for YouTuber A (41), who is accused of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (joint intimidation), Yonhap News reported on the same day. The court stated the reason for dismissal, saying, "It is difficult to consider that there is a risk of evidence destruction, and at this stage, it is difficult to recognize the grounds and necessity for detention."
A was booked by the police on suspicion of directly and indirectly causing a fatal traffic accident that occurred around 3:50 a.m. on September 22 on a road in Sanwol-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City. At the time, A live-streamed on YouTube a chase after an SUV driven by B, in his mid-30s, suspected of drunk driving. Two other vehicles driven by A’s subscribers also joined the chase.
Startled by the pursuit of three vehicles, B tried to escape but collided with a large trailer parked on the shoulder. Immediately after the collision, the vehicle was engulfed in flames and completely burned down. B, who was seriously injured, was taken to the hospital but died.
A vehicle engulfed in flames after a rear-end collision while being chased by a YouTuber. Provided by Gwangju Gwangsan Fire Station.
The police judged that YouTuber A’s reckless pursuit of B’s vehicle directly and indirectly caused the fatal accident. Five others, including A’s subscribers who joined the chase, were also booked on the same charges and are under investigation.
YouTuber A, who has tens of thousands of subscribers, was reportedly live-streaming on YouTube the entire process from reports of suspected drunk driving in entertainment districts to crackdowns and arrests. A uploaded about 800 videos and received donations from subscribers by posting so-called ‘disciplinary education’ videos. When the chase by ordinary citizens led to a fatal accident, controversy arose over whether it was appropriate for a YouTuber, not the police, to carry out so-called ‘private punishment’ despite drunk driving being illegal.
Meanwhile, A’s pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) was held that morning, and it was reported that another YouTuber live-streamed A’s appearance in court in real time. After the hearing, A did not respond to reporters’ questions such as "Do you think private punishment is not a problem?", "Do you have anything to say to the victim?", and "Will you continue live-streaming on YouTube?"
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