Veteran South Korean actor Lee Jae-ryong, aged 62, faces re-arrest following a drunk driving incident in Seoul’s Gangnam district that injured his wife and children. Authorities confirm the crash occurred when his vehicle struck a guardrail, leading to charges of drunk driving and related injuries.
Details of the Crash
Police responded to the accident site on January 7, transporting Lee to a hospital for treatment before formally charging him with drunk driving offenses. Investigations reveal he consumed alcohol at a bar in the Jihacheol 9-ho Seonsam Central Apartment area until around 11 p.m. following dinner. He then drove toward home, where the vehicle collided with a guardrail.
After the crash, Lee proceeded to a residence where his wife was staying before heading to the police station. Blood tests showed his alcohol level between 0.03% and 0.08%, exceeding the legal limit. Despite this, Lee maintains that no intoxication affected his driving at the time of the incident.
Prior Alcohol-Related Incidents
This marks Lee’s third alcohol-related offense. In 2003, he drove drunk in Gangnam, injuring a pedestrian after striking their vehicle. He received treatment for excessive alcohol consumption but faced minimal consequences at the time.
In June 2019, Lee assaulted a bar owner while intoxicated, receiving a suspended sentence despite prior warnings. Records indicate a pattern of operating vehicles and businesses under the influence, including consuming up to 14 bottles of soju in one session.
Public Admissions of Heavy Drinking
Lee has openly discussed his alcohol habits on television. During a 2018 SBS appearance on ‘DongSang I Mong 2 – You Are My Destiny,’ he explained heavy drinking as necessary for social gatherings, stating, “You have to drink more to handle it.”
A January 23 YouTube channel ‘Janhanhyung Sindongyeop’ featured him mixing makgeolli and dequirla, prompting host Lee Sang-min to question, “Don’t you have to drink at home?” Lee replied, “I still do,” showing no signs of discomfort.
Wife’s Similar Struggles
Lee’s wife, a former announcer, shares a history of heavy drinking. In a 2015 SBS ‘Healing Camp’ episode, she admitted tasting alcohol since her twenties, consuming it daily with her husband. She confessed, “My husband would say, ‘Just drink a little more since you’re already drunk.'”
She reflected, “It’s medicine for my insomnia. Even if it’s excessive, it’s better than taking sleeping pills.”
Career Highlights
Lee debuted in 1986 as an MBC talent, starring in dramas such as ‘The Wings of Love,’ ‘Mysterious Isis,’ and ‘Jointly Variable.’ He married his announcer wife in 1995, and they have one son and one daughter.
