Korean Actor Lee Jae-ryong Charged with DUI and Obstructing Sobriety Test in Seoul
A South Korean actor, Lee Jae-ryong, 62, has had another charge added in a Seoul DUI case. The Gangnam District Police on March 13 announced that they have added a charge of obstructing a sobriety test to the existing allegations of drunk driving and leaving the scene after an accident.
Lee is accused of drunk driving and failing to take action after a crash under the Road Traffic Act. The new charge specifically targets interference with police sobriety measurements, which under a revised law is punishable when a driver suspected of DUI attempts to hinder a breath or blood alcohol test. The amendment took effect last June and has been nicknamed the Kim Ho-jung Prevention Law.
The timeline reported by police and local outlets places the incident in Seoul’s upscale Gangnam area. Lee allegedly crashed a car, then parked at hisCheongdam-dong residence and later visited a friend’s home before his arrest around 2 a.m. the following day. Yonhap News TV later reported that Lee walked about 20 minutes to a nearby restaurant after parking, where a drinking session with friends was said to have occurred, though it is not confirmed that he drank there.
Police are said to be examining whether Lee consumed alcohol again after the crash. The broadcaster noted the presence of a liquor bottle and a dish of skirt steak at the table, but did not confirm whether Lee drank at that time. Authorities have indicated the investigation is ongoing and that the new charge relates to potential attempts to impede tests administered by police.
Lee initially denied DUI charges after the incident. Reports have indicated that he later admitted to having four shots of soju before driving, a detail that would be central to the case’s DUI allegations and the testing process.
The actor has faced prior alcohol-related incidents. In 2019, he was accused of damaging property after knocking over a bowling alley sign while intoxicated in Gangnam; prosecutors deferred prosecution. Another alcohol-related incident in 2003, also in Gangnam, involved driving after drinking and a collision with another vehicle.
Why this matters beyond Korea: for U.S. readers, the case illustrates South Korea’s tightening approach to drunk driving, including penalties for interfering with sobriety testing and the enforcement of urban traffic safety in major commercial districts. The involvement of a high-profile actor highlights how public safety laws, celebrity accountability, and media coverage intersect in a global industry. The broader trend toward stricter DUI enforcement can influence international collaborations, travel risk assessments for business and entertainment projects, and the reliability of safety standards in cross-border supply chains and markets.