Office Worker Fined 20 Million Won for Driving to Work While Still Intoxicated

▲ Ulsan District Court

An office worker who got behind the wheel while still intoxicated on their way to work has been fined 20 million won.

Ulsan District Court Judge Lee Jae-wook of the 3rd Criminal Division announced on July 5 that the sentence was handed down to a person in their 30s, identified as A, who was indicted on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act.

According to the charges, A was caught during a police crackdown on a road in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, in February of this year while driving for approximately 18 kilometers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.051 percent.

It was revealed that A had been drinking until 3:00 a.m. that day and drove the car on the way to work after waking up.

The prosecution had requested a prison sentence, noting that A had previously received a suspended prison sentence for drunk driving several years ago but drove under the influence again.

However, the court took into account that it was a case of driving with a hangover and that the blood alcohol concentration was at a level warranting a license suspension (0.03 percent or higher and less than 0.08 percent).

The court stated the reason for the sentencing, saying, "While a prison sentence is necessary to prevent recidivism, we considered the fact that the defendant is reflecting on their actions, the blood alcohol concentration was relatively low, and the defendant was caught in the morning after drinking in the early hours."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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