Driver of Soccer Club Van Involved in 'Taeho-Yuchan Act'... Sentence Increased by 1 Year in Appeal Trial

Incheon District Court Sentences 3 Years and 6 Months Imprisonment... "Public Outrage Grows Over Safety Negligence of Academy Van"

'7 Injured or Dead' Incheon Football Club Van Driver
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The driver involved in the fatal traffic accident caused by running a red light in a private soccer club van in Incheon, which claimed the lives of two elementary school students and sparked the so-called 'Taeho-Yuchan Act' amendment, has been sentenced to a heavier punishment in the appellate court than in the first trial.

The 4th Criminal Appeals Division of the Incheon District Court (Chief Judge Yang Eunsang) sentenced A (23), a coach of a private soccer club in Incheon who was detained and prosecuted on charges of causing death and injury under the Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling, to 3 years and 6 months in prison at the appellate trial held on the 7th. This is one year longer than the sentence given in the first trial.

The appellate court stated, "The defendant is a young man in his early 20s who admits to all charges and shows remorse," but added, "He exceeded the speed limit by as much as 55 km/h and ran a red light, causing enormous damage."

It further explained the sentencing rationale, saying, "The victims' families are suffering significant mental anguish," and "There is public outrage over the safety negligence related to academy vans, making severe punishment inevitable. Considering this, the original sentence is deemed too light."

Previously, the first trial court sentenced A to 2 years and 6 months in prison in September last year. The prosecution had requested a 5-year prison term for A, stating, "Although it is a first offense, the negligence is severe." When sentenced to imprisonment, the defendant is detained in prison like with a jail term, but unlike a jail term, forced labor is not imposed.

On May 15 last year, an accident occurred at an intersection in front of an apartment complex in Songdo International City, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, where a Starex van used for commuting by a private soccer club collided with a Carnival passenger car and then struck a pedestrian. Two elementary school students in the vehicle died, and five pedestrians were injured in the accident. 2019.5.15 [Photo by Incheon Fire Headquarters]

On May 15 last year, at around 7:58 p.m., A was driving a Starex van used for commuting to a private soccer club in front of an intersection near an apartment in Songdo International City, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, when he ran a red light and sped, colliding with a Carnival van. As a result of this accident, two elementary school students, including B (8), who were in the vehicle, died, and five others, including a 20-year-old pedestrian, were injured.

Investigations revealed that A entered the intersection driving at a speed of 85 km/h. The speed limit on this road was 30 km/h.

This accident raised concerns about blind spots in the so-called 'Serimi Act,' which strengthens safety obligations for children's school buses, and led to the proposal of a revision to the Road Traffic Act, known as the 'Taeho-Yuchan Act,' in the National Assembly to address these issues.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.