South Korean actor Lee Jae-ryong charged again with obstructing breath-alcohol test in DUI case

South Korean actor Lee Jae-ryong, 62, has been recharged with an additional charge of obstructing a breath-alcohol test in connection with a drunk-driving incident in Seoul, police said on Friday. The Gangnam District Police announced the new allegation after previously charging him with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on the night of the 6th near Samsung Jungang Station on Seoul Subway Line 9 in Gangnam. Police say Lee drove while intoxicated, struck a central divider, and fled the scene. He was later taken into custody at around 2 a.m. on the 7th after spending about three hours at a friend’s residence.

Authorities say Lee’s blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was at a level that would lead to a suspended license. They suspect that he tried to drink further after the collision to hinder sobriety testing, a tactic referred to in Korean as a deliberate attempt to “drink to negate testing.” Investigators plan to estimate his BAC at the time using the Widmark formula and to question witnesses who were with him.

Initially, Lee denied DUI charges when questioned by police, but subsequent statements reportedly suggested he had “four shots of soju” and drove, while claiming only to have lightly touched the central divider. Police will continue to scrutinize his account in relation to the new obstruction-of-testing charge.

Under Korea’s current Road Traffic Act, obstructing sobriety testing carries penalties of one to five years in prison or fines of 5 to 20 million won (roughly $3,800 to $15,000). The provision was created after a 2024 case involving trot singer Kim Ho-joong and took effect in June of last year.

The case highlights Korea’s strict stance on drunk driving and on efforts to prevent evasion of alcohol testing. For international audiences, it underscores how high-profile DUI cases can affect the Korean entertainment industry, investor confidence, and cross-border collaborations in film and television production, talent contracts, and brand partnerships. The ongoing investigation and potential penalties may influence how foreign partners assess risk in Korea’s media ecosystem.