Gwangju District Court Holds First Trial for Violations of Violent Acts Punishment Act
Driver Being Chased Dies After Crashing Into Parked Truck
Eleven Subscribers Also Indicted, Some Face Fines
A YouTuber involved in a fatal accident that occurred while chasing and livestreaming a suspected drunk driving vehicle has denied responsibility in court.
On September 9, Judge Jeon Heesook of the Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 9 held the first trial for Choi (42), a YouTuber charged with joint intimidation under the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts and other related offenses. Choi was indicted without detention on charges of directly and indirectly causing a fatal traffic accident involving a driver on a road in Sanwol-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, in September of last year.
Choi operates the YouTube channel "Damyang Ori" and livestreamed scenes of chasing a vehicle suspected of drunk driving. The driver in his 30s, identified as A, who was being pursued, crashed into a parked truck and died in a subsequent car fire.
Choi's attorney denied the charges, stating, "The intention was to hand over the suspected drunk driving vehicle to the police." Eleven subscribers who joined the pursuit were also indicted, and among them, prosecutors requested a fine of 3 million won for three individuals who admitted to the charges.
The court is scheduled to hold the next hearing on November 18, during which the livestream footage from the incident will be played and witnesses will be examined.
Choi is also accused of preventing a driver who was not intoxicated from exiting their vehicle in December 2023. In January of last year, he livestreamed a police drunk driving checkpoint, which led to a conflict between the driver and subscribers.
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