Japanese netizens question lenient drunk-driving penalties in Korea after fatal crash
A bollard marking the boundary between the road and sidewalk near Dongdaemun Station in Seoul’s Jongno District remains damaged on Monday after a drunk driver’s car crashed into a Japanese mother and daughter, killing the mother. Yonhap
The death of a Japanese tourist who was struck by a drunk driver in Seoul has sparked criticism in Japan over what many see as Korea’s lenient punishment for such offenses.
A post believed to have been written by a member of the victim’s family has drawn widespread attention online, questioning whether strong penalties are possible under Korean law.
A social media user with the handle abcz8756 wrote Tuesday, “In Korea, my mother and sister were hit by a drunk driver. My mother died, and my sister is in [a] critical condition.”
The post added, “I heard that drunk drivers in Korea often receive light punishment and no compensation. Is it really impossible to impose stricter penalties, unlike in Japan?”
The online post garnered over 1.8 million views and 20,000 likes in a single day, with both Japanese and Korean users offering condolences. Many Korean commenters expressed sympathy, saying they also “want harsher punishment for drunk drivers.”
The accident occurred at around 10 p.m. Saturday, when a man in his 30s whose surname is Seo drove onto a sidewalk near Dongdaemun Station in central Seoul, striking a Japanese mother and daughter who were visiting the city.
The 50-year-old mother died at the scene, while her daughter suffered serious injuries. Police said the driver’s blood alcohol level was high enough for license revocation.
A drunk driver who fatally struck a Japanese mother and injured her daughter in Seoul appears at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District for a hearing to determine the validity of his arrest warrant, Wednesday. Yonhap
Japanese media outlets, including TV Asahi, covered the case and examined Korea’s record on drunk driving.
The network noted that Korea reports over 130,000 driving while intoxicated cases annually — six times Japan’s figure — despite having only half its population. TV Asahi also cited Seoul residents who said that “punishments are too light” and “repeat offenses remain common.”
Under Japanese law, a drunk driver who causes a fatality can face up to 30 years in prison, or more if multiple charges apply.
In Korea, the maximum sentence for a drunk-driving crash resulting in death is effectively 12 years, despite the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes allowing for life imprisonment or a minimum of three years.
The Supreme Court’s sentencing guidelines recommend four to 8 years in typical cases, extending to 12 years for repeat or aggravated offenses.
However, experts clarified that claims about victims being unable to receive compensation are incorrect — financial restitution is possible under Korean civil law.
Police said the driver had consumed about three bottles of soju before driving his car for roughly one kilometer. He was taken into custody at the scene with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit for license revocation of 0.08 percent and formally arrested on Wednesday.
Seo’s side has reportedly offered to cover the victim’s funeral and transportation expenses.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.