World · East Asia & Pacific · 18 hrs ago
South Korean appeals court overturns acquittal in drunk-driving case
A South Korean appeals court convicted a 44-year-old man of drunk driving after overturning his acquittal.
He had been stopped after driving about 4.5 kilometres in Wonju in December 2024, with a recorded blood alcohol level of 0.068%.
He said he drank a can of beer after getting home, and argued that this raised his test result.
The first court said it could not rule out that explanation and acquitted him.
The appeals court found his changing account and conflicting testimony from his wife suspicious, and considered a police call reporting that his car was swerving and crossing lanes.
Using a formula to estimate his alcohol level while driving, the court concluded it was 0.068%, above South Korea’s 0.03% legal threshold.
He received a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years, and must attend 40 hours of safe-driving classes.
A South Korean appeals court overturned an acquittal in a drunk-driving case and sentenced the driver to six months in prison, suspended for two years.
The man had argued that beer he drank at home after driving affected his blood-alcohol test.
The appeals court found his accounts inconsistent and concluded that his blood-alcohol level while driving was 0.068%.
It also ordered him to attend 40 hours of safe-driving classes.
- Who
- A 44-year-old man identified as A, who was prosecuted for drunk driving.
- What
- The appeals court overturned his acquittal and sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for two years.
- When
- The ruling was announced on November 8, 2026.
- Where
- The case was heard by the Chuncheon District Court in South Korea; the driving took place on a road in Wonju.
- Why
- The appeals court found that the man's accounts changed and that the evidence supported a blood-alcohol level of 0.068% while driving.
The defendant
The appeals court
Post-driving drinking
The defendant
He said he drank a can of beer at home after driving and that it affected the alcohol test.
The appeals court
The court found his account unreliable and said his blood-alcohol level while driving was 0.068%.
A drove about 4.5 kilometres on a road in Wonju with a blood-alcohol level later assessed at 0.068%.
A court of first instance acquitted him, finding it could not rule out his claim that he drank beer after returning home.
The Chuncheon District Court's appeals panel overturned the acquittal and imposed a suspended prison sentence and a safe-driving course.
- Driver
- A, 44
- Driving location
- A road in Wonju, South Korea
- Distance driven
- About 4.5 kilometres
- Blood-alcohol level
- 0.068%
- Sentence
- Six months in prison, suspended for two years
- Safe-driving course
- 40 hours
1 source
What people are saying
The defendant's excuses and actions after being caught driving under the influence, undertaken to avoid punishment, went beyond the scope of exercising the right to defend himself and were highly improper in that they sought to mislead investigative agencies or the court.