Sentenced to 1.5 years for drunk driving again while on probation

A 40-year-old man in South Korea has been sentenced to 1.5 years in prison for driving a cargo truck while intoxicated and without a license, committing the offense during his probation period for a previous drunk driving conviction.

The man was caught driving on the Yeongdong Expressway near the Munmak interchange in Gangwon Province around 3:22 AM. He ignored police instructions to stop. Investigations revealed he was heavily intoxicated, with a blood alcohol content of 0.158%, and drove approximately 90 kilometers from his accommodation in Pyeongchang to a hospital in Wonju without a license.

During the incident, he crashed into the central reservation guardrail near the Munmak toll gate, causing approximately 4.81 million won (about $3,500 USD) in property damage. He then fled the scene. While he has since compensated for the damages, the court considered his actions severely.

The court noted his previous drunk driving convictions in 2003, 2012, and 2014. Most recently, he received a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years in 2024 for drunk driving offenses. The judge emphasized that re-offending while on probation, driving a long distance without responding to police, and having a very high blood alcohol level posed a significant risk of a serious accident, warranting a severe punishment.

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The defendant committed a repeat offense while on probation, drove a long distance without complying with police instructions, and had a very high blood alcohol concentration, posing a significant risk of a serious accident. Therefore, severe punishment corresponding to the defendant's criminal intent is necessary.