Stricter Penalties for "Sultagi" After Drunk Driving: Tougher Punishments Enforced

Fines of 130,000 Won for Personal Mobility Devices
and 100,000 Won for Bicycles

An amendment to the Road Traffic Act, which provides a clear legal basis for punishing the so-called "Sultagi" method?where individuals flee the scene after a drunk driving accident and consume additional alcohol?has come into effect.

The Korea Road Traffic Authority announced on the 20th that it has released a card news summary explaining the recently implemented amendments to the Road Traffic Act and its enforcement ordinance.

Cover of the guide to the amended Road Traffic Act effective June 4, 2025. Provided by the National Police Agency and Korea Road Traffic Authority.

The "Sultagi" method refers to the act of leaving the scene after being caught in a drunk driving crackdown or after causing an accident, and then consuming more alcohol to make it difficult to accurately measure the actual blood alcohol concentration. Punishments for drunk driving are determined based on the blood alcohol concentration measured through breath or blood tests at the time of driving, but the Sultagi method obscures this measurement.

The revised Road Traffic Act defines the act of consuming additional alcohol after operating a vehicle or bicycle, with the intent of making alcohol measurement difficult, as an act of interfering with alcohol measurement.

For first-time offenders who interfere with alcohol measurement, the penalty is 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. For repeat offenders who are convicted of drunk driving or causing an accident within ten years, the penalty is imprisonment for at least one year and up to six years, or a fine of at least 5 million won and up to 30 million won. In addition, the driver's license may be revoked.

'Revised Road Traffic Act Prohibiting Interference with Alcohol Measurement.' Provided by National Police Agency and Korea Road Traffic Authority

If a person interferes with alcohol measurement after operating a personal mobility device or bicycle while intoxicated, they must pay a fine of 130,000 won and 100,000 won, respectively.

This amendment establishes a clear legal basis for sanctioning methods of evading alcohol measurement that previously fell into a legal blind spot. It is expected to improve the accuracy and fairness of drunk driving enforcement and reduce the social harm caused by drunk driving. The Korea Road Traffic Authority stated, "This amendment is intended to fundamentally block attempts to evade alcohol measurement and to reduce traffic accidents and social harm caused by drunk driving."

Meanwhile, the card news materials summarizing the amendments in an easy-to-understand manner are available on the official website of the Korea Road Traffic Authority, as well as on social networking services (SNS) such as Facebook and Instagram.