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Commuting While Hungover Leads to 20 Million Won Fine: A Warning for Frequent Drinkers

Published : Jul 6, 2026 10:42 AM

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Our second hot topic concerns driving with a hangover.

For those who frequently attend company dinners, please pay attention to this news.

A company employee was recently fined 20 million won after being caught driving to work while still under the influence of alcohol from the night before.

The employee, identified as a person in their 30s named A, was caught during a police crackdown on a road in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, last February. At the time, A was driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.051 percent.

Investigations revealed that A had been drinking until 3 a.m. that day.

A then slept for a few hours before getting behind the wheel to head to work.

The prosecution had requested a prison sentence, noting that A had previously received a suspended prison sentence for a prior drunk driving offense.

However, the court opted for a fine, taking into account that it was a case of driving with a hangover and that the blood alcohol concentration had not reached the level required for license revocation.