"Holiday Expressway Traffic Violations Decrease, But Drunk Driving Rises in Reverse"
Drunk driving on expressways during the holiday period has increased over the past few years.
According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to Kim Heejung, a member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party representing Yeonje District in Busan, there were a total of 345 cases of drunk driving detected on expressways during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holiday periods over the four years from 2022 to 2025.
By year, the number surged more than twofold from 59 cases in 2022 to 127 cases in 2023. It then decreased to 79 cases in 2024, but 80 cases were still detected in 2025, showing little sign of decline.
The damage from drunk driving accidents is also increasing. There were 9 related accidents in 2022, with 20 people injured, and 8 accidents in 2023, with 14 people injured. However, in 2024 the number of accidents rose to 14, and the number of injured increased sharply to 40.
In contrast, the total number of traffic law violations detected on expressways during the holiday period showed a downward trend. After increasing from 1,355 cases in 2022 to 1,636 cases in 2023, the figure declined to 985 cases in 2024 and 541 cases in 2025. The total number of violations detected over the four years was 4,517.
By type of violation, failure to wear a seat belt was the most common with 1,380 cases, followed by 1,355 cases of bus-only lane violations, 587 cases of designated lane violations, and 286 cases of speeding.
Assemblywoman Kim stressed, "Although the total number of violations is decreasing, it is concerning that drunk driving accidents and the number of injured are increasing," adding, "Measures to prevent drunk driving during the holiday period must be strengthened."
Kim Heejeong, Member of the National Assembly.
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