With the Enforcement of the 'Yoon Chang-ho Act,' Courts Also Increase Sentences for Drunk Driving Crimes... Maximum Imprisonment of 12 Years

Kim Young-ran, the Chairperson of the Sentencing Commission, is speaking at the plenary meeting held at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 20th. The Supreme Court Sentencing Commission is discussing sentencing guidelines for crimes involving obscene materials using children and adolescents. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Following the revision and enforcement of the 'Yoon Chang-ho Act,' which strengthens the standards for crackdowns and punishments on drunk driving, the courts have also decided to increase sentencing for crimes related to drunk driving.

According to the Supreme Court on the 21st, the Supreme Court Sentencing Commission agreed in a plenary meeting held the previous day to establish a new category for 'dangerous driving traffic accidents,' raising the sentencing range compared to the previous 'general traffic accidents.'

This means that cases where accidents occur while driving in a dangerous state such as under the influence of alcohol will be classified as a separate crime type and punished more severely than general traffic accidents.

According to the revised sentencing guidelines, the basic sentencing range for the crime of causing death by dangerous driving, such as drunk driving, has been raised to imprisonment for 2 to 5 years (previously, the basic range for general traffic accident manslaughter was imprisonment for 8 months to 2 years). The aggravated range has been set at imprisonment for 4 to 8 years (previously 1 to 3 years).

In cases with high culpability, special adjustments are recommended to impose sentences up to a maximum of 12 years imprisonment.

Repeat offenders ('dongjong nubum') who commit drunk driving traffic crimes again will also be considered a special aggravating factor. Accordingly, not only dangerous driving causing death or injury but also prior drunk driving convictions will lead to aggravated punishment.

When courts determine sentencing, prior drunk driving convictions are included as general aggravating factors, not just special aggravating factors.

Additionally, if the court deems the nature of the crime to be very severe, it may impose sentences exceeding the upper limit.

Special aggravating factors for the crime of causing injury by dangerous driving include serious injury occurrence, cases with severe illegality under Article 3, Paragraph 2, Note of the Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling, reckless driving, and repeat offenses.

The sentencing range has also been partially increased to recommend strict sentencing in cases of hit-and-run after a traffic accident.

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