40 cases of drunk driving among Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport officials over 5 years

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Hong Gyu-bin = Over the past five years, there have been 40 drunk driving cases involving public officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the ministry in charge of traffic safety, and affiliated organizations.

According to the 'Status of notification of commencement of criminal investigation and disposition results of public officials' submitted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Mi-ae, a member of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee of the National Assembly on the 5th, a total of 40 drunk driving cases were recorded from 2021 to September of this year.

There were 36 single charges of drunk driving, and in the remaining 4 cases, charges such as drunk driving, causing death by dangerous driving, causing death while running away under the Aggravated Punishment Act for Specific Crimes (Special Act), or failing to take action after an accident under the Road Traffic Act were applied. Separately, there were two cases of refusal to take a breathalyzer test.

When looking at the results of the disposition, including refusal to take a breathalyzer test, the largest number were summary indictments (27), requesting the court to impose fines, etc. through a written hearing without a formal trial.

There were 8 cases handed over to formal trials (1 case indicted with detention), and 1 case each of suspended indictment, transfer without detention, and no charges. Four cases are still under investigation.

By the same standard, by the time of investigation notification, there were 6 cases in 2021, 10 cases in 2022, and 8 cases each in 2023 and 2024. This year, as of last month, there were 7 cases (3 summary indictments, 4 during investigation), already exceeding last year's number of cases (3).

Rep. Kim said, “The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is responsible for public safety and large-scale public projects such as roads, railways, and aviation.” He added, “We must compare the final ruling with disciplinary and personnel measures to check whether the response after the investigation was appropriate and whether measures to prevent recurrence are working in the field.”