A string of deadly drunk driving crashes in Seoul that claimed the lives of international nationals has sparked public outrage and renewed calls from residents and consultants for more durable penalties and stricter legislation enforcement.
On Sunday, a Japanese mom and daughter visiting from Osaka have been hit by an alleged drunk driver whereas utilizing a crosswalk close to Dongdaemun Station in central Seoul. The 50-year-old mom died, and her daughter, in her 30s, was severely injured.
The driving force, whose blood alcohol degree far exceeded the brink for license cancellation, was taken into custody on Wednesday.
The crash occurred only a week after a separate drunk driving incident in Seoul’s Gangnam District on Oct. 25, when a 30-year-old Canadian man of Korean descent was struck whereas crossing a road. The case solely grew to become public just lately.
The driving force was arrested on the scene with a blood alcohol degree over the authorized restrict for license revocation. The sufferer went into cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital, the place he later died.
Though Korea’s drunk driving legal guidelines usually are not thought of lenient, critics argue that the actual situation is how evenly they’re utilized in apply.
Beneath the present legislation, inflicting harm or loss of life whereas driving below the affect is punishable by a minimal of three years in jail and as much as life imprisonment. This guideline of sentence seems stricter than the legislation in Japan, the place the utmost sentence is 30 years.
In apply, nonetheless, Korean courts not often impose the hardest penalties. Supreme Court docket sentencing tips present that even in deadly drunk driving circumstances, jail phrases usually peak at round eight years.
By comparability, Japan has handed down far more durable sentences in related circumstances. In a single extensively cited ruling, a drunk driver obtained 25 years in jail for a crash that killed 4 members of the identical household.
“Contemplating the general public’s sense of justice, sentencing must be stronger by growing penalties and making use of the legislation extra strictly,” stated stated Choi Jae-won, a professor on the Korea Highway Site visitors Authority.
Regardless of the implementation of stricter drunk driving legal guidelines such because the Yoon Chang-ho Act and the Kim Ho-joong Act following a collection of tragic accidents, Choi highlighted that probably the most persistent downside stays the excessive price of repeat offenses.
“The recidivism price for drug crimes is 38 p.c, however for drunk driving it’s 44 p.c. Whereas the general variety of drunk driving circumstances has declined, the speed of repeat offenses has not modified over the previous decade,” Choi stated.
He burdened that stronger sentencing alone is just not sufficient and that extra sensible measures are wanted to forestall repeat offenses.
One such measure is the introduction of ignition interlock units, which can be mandated beginning Oct. 26 subsequent yr. These units detect whether or not the driving force has consumed alcohol and stop the automobile from beginning if alcohol is detected. Within the U.S., 28 states have adopted the system, leading to an estimated 80 p.c discount in repeat offenses.
“We’re transferring in the proper course, however these accidents are nonetheless taking place. After they do happen, it’s time for the courts to display stricter utility of the legislation,” Choi added.
