Police refer comedian Lee Hyuk-jae, 54, to prosecutors over drunk-driving crash in Incheon
In short
Incheon Yeonsu police said on the 20th that they sent comedian Lee Hyuk-jae (이혁재), 54, to the Incheon district prosecution office without detention on a drunk-driving charge. He is suspected of hitting a motorcycle waiting at a signal on the 8th of last month with a blood alcohol level in the licence-suspension range. Police did not apply the injury charge under the traffic accident special act.
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Incheon Yeonsu police said on the 20th that they had booked comedian Lee Hyuk-jae (이혁재), 54, without detention on a drunk-driving charge under the Road Traffic Act and recently referred him to the Incheon district prosecution office. Newsis described him as a broadcaster. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Lee is suspected of driving after drinking at about 22:00 on the 8th of last month and hitting a motorcycle that was waiting at a signal. Yonhap and Korea Economic Daily put the crossroads in front of the Coast Guard headquarters in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu district, Incheon. Newsis said it was near the headquarters. Police measured his blood alcohol concentration at the scene in the licence-suspension range of 0.03% to under 0.08%. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Police did not apply the injury charge under the Act on Special Cases Concerning Traffic Accidents. A police official told Yonhap that, after investigation, only the drunk-driving charge was applied. Newsis quoted a police official as saying the damage was minor, and said the motorcyclist, identified only as A in their 20s, was found not to be seriously injured. Kyunghyang Shinmun quoted a police official as saying the rider was not injured. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Kyunghyang Shinmun also quoted a police official as saying Lee admitted the drunk-driving charge. The other documents do not mention an admission. [ 4 ]
Lee has claimed he was having dinner at a restaurant 300 to 500 metres from his home, drank one or two glasses and then drove, and reported the crash to police himself. He told Yonhap at the time that he had stepped out saying he would not drink during the meal, and that the car moved forward as he tried to pick up a dropped phone, causing the crash. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The documents give no wider consequences. The case moves to prosecutors on a drunk-driving charge only, and outlets report that police dropped the injury charge because the motorcyclist was not seriously hurt.
Key facts
- Incheon Yeonsu police said on the 20th that they booked Lee Hyuk-jae, 54, without detention on a drunk-driving charge under the Road Traffic Act and recently referred him to the Incheon district prosecution office. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Lee is suspected of driving while drunk and hitting a motorcycle waiting at a signal at about 22:00 on the 8th of last month at a crossroads in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu district, Incheon. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Yonhap and Korea Economic Daily place the crossroads in front of the Coast Guard headquarters (해양경찰청); Newsis says near it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police measured his blood alcohol concentration at the scene in the licence-suspension range, from 0.03% to under 0.08%. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Police did not apply the injury charge under the Act on Special Cases Concerning Traffic Accidents and applied only the drunk-driving charge. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Police booked Lee without detention on a drunk-driving charge and referred him to the Incheon district prosecution office, according to Yonhap, Korea Economic Daily, Newsis and Kyunghyang Shinmun. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- He is suspected of hitting a motorcycle waiting at a signal in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu district, at about 22:00 on the 8th of last month. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- His blood alcohol concentration at the scene was in the licence-suspension range of 0.03% to under 0.08%. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The injury charge under the Act on Special Cases Concerning Traffic Accidents was not applied. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- How badly the motorcyclist was hurt. Newsis says the rider, identified only as A in their 20s, was found not to be seriously injured. Kyunghyang Shinmun quotes police as saying the rider was not injured.
- Whether Lee admitted the charge. Only Kyunghyang Shinmun quotes a police official as saying Lee admitted the drunk-driving charge; the other documents do not say.
- Lee's account of how the crash happened. Lee's account, as given by Yonhap, Korea Economic Daily and Kyunghyang Shinmun, is his own claim and has not been confirmed by police in the documents.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On the 8th of last month, Lee allegedly hit a motorcycle waiting at a signal in Songdo-dong, Incheon, while driving after drinking. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Yonhap published the police announcement of the referral on the 20th. [ 1 ]
- Newsis published its report on the referral. [ 3 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun published its report on the referral. [ 4 ]