Driver Detained in Reverse Driving Accident at Sicheong Station... "Risk of Escape"

Cha Mo (68), the driver responsible for the wrong-way driving accident at Seoul City Hall Station that resulted in 9 deaths, was arrested on the 30th.

On the night of the 1st, near Seoul City Hall, a passenger car drove the wrong way through an intersection and struck pedestrians, resulting in 9 deaths. On the morning of the 2nd, someone placed a bouquet of chrysanthemums near the accident site. Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

Kim Seok-beom, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, conducted a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review) for Cha on the same day and issued an arrest warrant, citing concerns that he might flee.

According to the police, on the 1st of this month at around 9:27 PM, Cha was driving out of the underground parking lot of the Westin Chosun Hotel near City Hall Station when he accelerated and drove in the wrong direction. The accident resulted in 9 deaths and 7 people, including Cha and his spouse, sustaining serious and minor injuries.

On the 24th of this month, considering the severity of the crime, the police applied for an arrest warrant for Cha. Factors such as the large scale of damage, the lack of victim recovery, and Cha’s refusal to admit fault were also taken into account.

Contrary to the National Forensic Service’s assessment that the accident was highly likely caused by driver negligence, Cha consistently claimed in three police investigations that the accident occurred due to a vehicle defect.

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