Jimin Kyu, Chungnam Provincial Council Member Who Refused Drunk Driving Test, Appeals in Court After One Year

Scheduled for the Morning of the 25th Next Month

Jimin Kyu, a member of the National Assembly, is seen saying in front of the main gate of Cheonan Branch of Daejeon District Court immediately after the first trial verdict last year, "I will make up for this through more sincere legislative activities."

The first appellate trial for Ji Minkyu, an independent member of the South Chungcheong Provincial Council (Asan 6), who caused a disturbance and gave false explanations after refusing a breathalyzer test and being arrested, has been scheduled nearly a year after the appeal was filed.

According to the legal community on the 12th, the 1st Criminal Division of the Daejeon District Court has set the first appellate hearing for Ji, who was indicted on charges including violation of the Road Traffic Act (refusal of breathalyzer test), for the morning of the 25th of next month.

The appeal was filed on May 2 of last year.

On October 24, 2023, at around 12:15 a.m., Ji crashed into the central divider near an underpass while driving on Beonyeong-ro in Buldang-dong, Cheonan.

The police were dispatched after receiving a report suspecting drunk driving. When Ji refused the breathalyzer test and left the scene, he was arrested and taken to the nearby police station.

At the police station, he reportedly shouted, "This is coercive investigation. Tell this council member the exact hour, minute, and second I was arrested and who the informant is."

During the investigation, Ji denied the charges, claiming, "A substitute driver was driving."

The court of first instance sentenced Ji to one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years, along with 160 hours of community service and 40 hours of a safe driving course.

The court stated, "The nature of the crime is bad as he refused the police's request for a breathalyzer test without justifiable reason," but added, "The sentence was decided considering that he admitted all charges and is reflecting on his actions."

Immediately after the verdict, Ji said, "I apologize for causing trouble with actions that a council member should never commit. I will make up for this incident through more diligent legislative activities."

As a result of this incident, he was disciplined with a one-month suspension from the South Chungcheong Provincial Council and left the People Power Party, stating, "I can no longer cause trouble for the party."