Up to 5 Years in Prison or 20 Million Won Fine
Stronger Drunk Driving Crackdowns Day and Night
The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency is further strengthening its crackdown to eradicate drunk driving.
In particular, with stronger penalties now possible for so-called "Sul Tagi" acts?attempts to evade breathalyzer tests?the agency plans to conduct intensive crackdowns across the entire Gyeongbuk region through province-wide coordinated operations and constant checkpoints.
The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency (Commissioner Oh Bumyeong) announced that, in accordance with the amended Road Traffic Act implemented on June 4, 2025, it will significantly intensify both enforcement and penalties for acts that interfere with breathalyzer tests, and will continue to carry out intensive drunk driving crackdowns throughout the province, day and night.
Under this amendment to the Road Traffic Act, it is now clearly prohibited for drivers to consume additional alcohol immediately after driving or to use medicines that could affect blood alcohol concentration in order to evade breathalyzer tests.
This includes acts such as fleeing a traffic accident scene to drink alcohol, or hastily consuming alcohol stored in the vehicle at a checkpoint?both considered "Sul Tagi" behaviors.
Violators face imprisonment for at least one year and up to five years, or a fine of at least 5 million won and up to 20 million won. This is the highest level of penalty, equivalent to refusing a breathalyzer test or habitual drunk driving.
In fact, in 2025, drunk driving traffic accidents in the Gyeongbuk region decreased by about 27.5%, from 273 cases during the same period last year to 198 cases. However, the number of fatalities still reached four, highlighting the urgent need for further eradication efforts.
The fatalities occurred in Gyeongju (1), Pohang North (1), Pohang South (1), and Gumi (1). In response, the Gyeongbuk police, in cooperation with the 23 police stations in the province, will conduct at least one province-wide coordinated crackdown per week and at least two independent crackdowns per police station each week.
In particular, the agency plans to conduct multi-functional checkpoints tailored to various time periods, such as morning commutes when drivers may still be under the influence from the previous night, and lunchtime drinking, to ensure constant enforcement against drunk driving.
A representative from the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency stated, "Drunk driving is not just a simple violation; it is a serious crime that threatens the lives of others. Going forward, we will conduct surprise crackdowns both day and night, and will also enforce other traffic regulations such as seat belt use and motorcycle helmet use, to make Gyeongbuk safer from traffic accidents."
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