Court Rejects Driver's Appeal That Led to the Enactment of the 'Minsik Act'... Prison Sentence Upheld

Prosecution's Appeal Also Dismissed

A traffic safety sign for a child protection zone installed in front of an elementary school in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The driver responsible for the accident that triggered the enactment of the so-called ‘Minsik Act’ appealed the first trial’s prison sentence but the court did not accept the appeal.

On the 13th, the Criminal Appeals Division 2 of Daejeon District Court (Chief Judge Nam Dong-hee) dismissed both the appeals filed by A (44), who was indicted for violating the Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling (negligent homicide and injury), and the prosecution. A was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial.

The court stated, “There are no new circumstances to consider differently from the original judgment.”

A was indicted for hitting and killing Kim Minsik, who was crossing a crosswalk in a two-lane road school zone in front of a middle school in Asan-si, Chungnam Province, around 6 p.m. on September 11 last year, and causing injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment to Minsik’s younger sibling.

Earlier, the first trial court sentenced A to two years in prison in April.

This case led to amendments to the Road Traffic Act and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, which significantly strengthened child traffic safety in school zones.

These amended laws have been in effect since March 25.

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