"Yoon Chang-ho Law Was Useless" Drunk Driving Persists Despite COVID Era...Citizens Express 'Frustration'

Drunk Driving Accidents Increased by 13% from January to June Last Year During Social Distancing
Political Circles Propose 'Drunk Driving Recurrence Prevention Act'
Experts Say "Management of Drunk Drivers Including Psychological Treatment Is Necessary"

On the evening of November 27 last year, police officers were conducting a drunk driving crackdown using a 'contactless alcohol detector' on a road in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Despite a decrease in drinking gatherings such as company dinners due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people drinking and driving has been increasing. In particular, even after the enforcement of the 'Yoon Chang-ho Act,' which strengthened penalties for drunk driving, incidents continue to occur, becoming a serious social problem. Citizens are raising their voices, calling for not only tougher punishments but also measures to prevent recurrence.

Although social distancing measures have been strengthened due to COVID-19, leading to fewer gatherings and events, drunk driving traffic accidents are on the rise. According to multiple media reports, from January to June last year, the number of drunk driving accidents surged by 13.1% compared to the same period in 2019. The number of drunk driving injuries also increased by about 12.5%, from 12,093 last year to 13,601 this year.

Recently, despite the 2.5-level social distancing, a drunk driver in a Mercedes-Benz collided with the car in front, killing the driver of the preceding vehicle. Currently, nationwide bans on gatherings of five or more people and the suspension of restaurant and bar operations after 9 p.m. are in effect, but fatal accidents caused by drunk driving have not decreased.

On the afternoon of the 4th, a Mercedes-Benz vehicle in a drunken state collided with a passenger car ahead on the Gyeongbu Expressway, causing a fire. Firefighters from 119 are conducting extinguishing operations. Photo by Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters

According to media reports, at around 11:10 p.m. on the 4th, a Mercedes-Benz driven by A (41) collided with a stopped Avante in the first lane near the Pangyo Junction on the Seoul-bound Gyeongbu Expressway in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

Both vehicles were completely burned in the accident. The Avante driver, B (31), was found dead inside the car, while A reportedly evacuated outside the vehicle after the accident. Notably, A's blood alcohol concentration at the time was 0.115%, which is above the license cancellation level. The police plan to apply charges against A for failure to maintain a safe distance and reckless driving causing death under the Special Act on Punishment of Dangerous Driving (Yoon Chang-ho Act).

Earlier, on New Year's Day, a man in his 20s who caused an accident while drunk driving and fled the scene caused another accident at an intersection, resulting in the death of a woman in her 20s.

According to the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station, at around 10:05 p.m. on the 1st, C (28) driving an SUV crashed into a taxi on a road in Suwan-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. Immediately after the accident, C fled about 1 km, then crossed the center line at another intersection and collided with a passenger car waiting at a signal. The passenger car driver, D (27), was seriously injured and transported to a hospital but eventually died.

Investigations confirmed that C was driving in a state of intoxication at a level warranting license cancellation. The police have booked C for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, as he caused a fatal accident after fleeing the scene and crossing the center line.

Despite the 'Yoon Chang-ho Act,' which strengthens penalties for drivers causing fatal accidents due to drunk driving and raises the blood alcohol limit, driver awareness has not improved.

Despite the implementation of the so-called "Yoon Chang-ho Act," which strengthened penalties to prevent drunk driving, accidents caused by drunk driving continue to occur, leading to increasing calls for harsher punishments. Photo by Yonhap News

As a result, citizens are demanding that those who cause deaths by drunk driving be prosecuted for murder.

On various online communities and in comments on drunk driving-related articles, citizens express outrage, saying, "People who have drunk driven once do it again. Innocent people are dying; please come up with measures," "It's heartbreaking to think about the pain victims and their families endure," and "Even though the law has been strengthened, it is still weaker compared to other countries. Sentences should be increased to life imprisonment or the death penalty."

Some argue that measures to raise drivers' awareness are necessary to prevent repeat offenses. Last month, Democratic Party lawmaker Roh Woong-rae introduced a bill to amend the Road Traffic Act, requiring those whose licenses are suspended or revoked due to drunk driving to drive vehicles equipped with an 'alcohol ignition interlock device' for a certain period.

The main provisions stipulate that if a driver's license is suspended or revoked due to drunk driving, the driver must install an alcohol prevention device in the vehicle when driving again. Violations, such as failing to install the device or driving another vehicle without it, will result in license suspension or cancellation and penalties including imprisonment of up to one year or fines up to 3 million won.

Lawmaker Roh stated, "Despite the enforcement of the Yoon Chang-ho Act and the COVID-19 pandemic, drunk driving accidents are increasing. This proves that simple punishment has its limits."

Experts emphasize the need for management of drunk drivers to prevent recurrence. Lim Chae-hong, senior researcher at Samsung Traffic Safety Culture Institute, said, "Unlike other causes of traffic accidents, drunk driving is addictive, making short-term punishment ineffective. Psychological treatment for habitual drunk drivers and mandatory application of ignition interlock devices should be considered."

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