Seoul Actor Lee Jae-ryong Under DUI Probe as Penalties Tighten
Seoul’s Gangnam Police confirmed that actor Lee Jae-ryong, 62, is under investigation on suspicion of drunk driving and leaving the scene after a crash. The actor, who has prior drunk-driving records, was questioned after the incident in the Gangnam district and later admitted to the charges following initial denials. Police say he attempted to conceal his blood-alcohol level by consuming more alcohol after the crash.
Authorities also said they are pursuing additional charges of obstructing the DUI breath test. It is alleged that Lee went to another bar after the crash and then returned to a friend’s home, where he was arrested about three hours later. Investigators say they are examining whether he engaged in behavior intended to mask his intoxication at the time of the incident.
The sequence began on the night of the 6th, when Lee was driving near Cheongdam Station in the Cheongdam-dong area of Seoul and collided with a concrete median. He reportedly parked at a residential site in Cheongdam-dong and, with companions, drank at a nearby restaurant. The restaurant staff described him as visibly intoxicated; the group reportedly ordered a bottle of spirits and meat, though it remains unclear how much he actually drank.
After the crash, Lee was initially uncooperative with investigations, denying DUI claims, before revising his account the following day. On the 10th, he told police that he had consumed about one glass of distilled liquor and that the alleged “drinking to mask” behavior did not occur. He apologized for his conduct in front of reporters but declined to discuss details about who he drank with or why he went to a friend’s house.
Korean authorities also explained that BAC estimates will continue to be refined using official methods to determine the precise blood-alcohol level. They noted that consuming roughly four servings of soju could reach levels near or above thresholds that trigger penalties, although actual BAC depends on body weight and other factors. Korea’s road-traffic laws, tightened in 2024 following a high-profile case, impose prison terms or heavy fines for attempts to defeat testing or evade accountability.
Lee’s case is not Lee’s first run-in with DUI charges. In 2019, he was charged with property damage after a drunk-driving incident, but prosecutors deferred the case. A separate incident in 2003 saw him investigated for driving under the influence after crashing and then refusing a breath test.
In a separate high-profile case, the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office on the 9th released the mug shot, name and age of Kim So-yeong, 20, who is suspected of a serial-killing and drug offenses case in a northern Seoul motel. The office posted her photo and details under a criminal-information-disclosure law that allows authorities to publicize certain serious-crime suspects ahead of trial.
Kim So-yeong was charged the following day with murder, attempted murder and drug-law violations for allegedly administering benzodiazepine-containing beverages to three men between December and February. Two of the men died and one remained unconscious, according to the indictment. Prosecutors said the case reflects an “unusual motive crime” in which the suspect allegedly used drugs to control victims for personal or economic gain. Investigations have also touched on her past involvement with a youth center where theft allegations arose, prompting internal debate over how media coverage shapes public perception.
Critics, including a criminologist who runs a popular YouTube channel, argued that prosecutors framed Kim’s actions as a psychopathic motive tied to family conflict, a narrative some say oversimplifies the victim’s and suspect’s histories. The Northern District Prosecutors’ Office rebutted these claims in a press release, stating that the remarks by the commentator were misleading and would not influence the ongoing case.
Another major development involves the Jeju Air disaster, where a year has passed but recovery of remains continues during a formal reexamination. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Aviation and Rail Accident Investigation Board, and the Jeollanam-do Forensic Science Institute reported new finds at the wreckage site, including a tooth and several small bone fragments, as well as a mobile phone. To date, 64 remains have been recovered in the reexamination process, with 24 newly identified as belonging to seven presumed victims; investigators also recovered hundreds of personal effects and several phones.
Families of the victims have pressed for accountability, urging authorities to identify and discipline those responsible for the initial mishandling of the aftermath. President Lee Jae-myung ordered a严格 course of action, calling for accountability and thorough recovery of remains, a stance welcomed by the bereaved families who say the process must reveal the truth rather than become a mere formality. Critics have also raised concerns about how debris was collected and whether family input was adequately considered during the reexamination.
Why this matters beyond Korea: South Korea’s handling of DUI enforcement and high-profile criminal cases highlights how its legal framework treats public accountability and media disclosure, issues that resonate with U.S. audiences concerned about road-safety policy, due-process protections, and investigative transparency. In aviation safety, the Jeju Air case illustrates how independent accident investigators—analogous to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board—conduct thorough, long-running inquiries and how findings affect airline safety standards and international confidence in travel. The ongoing coverage of these cases offers a window into how a modern democracy manages criminal justice, media scrutiny, and risk oversight in high-stakes incidents.