South Korean court sentences individuals for drunk driving obstruction and theft

A South Korean court has issued sentences in two separate criminal cases involving obstruction of justice and theft.

In Ulsan, a man in his 40s received a prison sentence of 1 year and 6 months, suspended for 3 years, for attempting to obstruct a breathalyzer test. Following a parking dispute, the individual consumed a bottle of soju after being reported for suspected drunk driving to hide his initial level of intoxication. The court applied the ‘Kim Ho-jung Prevention Act,’ which was enacted to penalize the ‘drinking more alcohol’ tactic used to evade accurate blood alcohol measurements.

In Chuncheon, two individuals in their 60s were sentenced to 6 months in prison, suspended for 1 year, for stealing approximately 660kg of sweet pumpkins from a field in Hongcheon. Although the defendants claimed they believed the pumpkins were abandoned or grew naturally, the court rejected this defense, noting the presence of protective netting and the significant quantity stolen. The court noted that the defendants had made efforts toward restitution, including a deposit of 1.8 million won for the victim.