'Drunk driving accident' Kim Sae-ron admits to all charges

Actress Kim Sae-ron, who caused an accident while driving while intoxicated, was sentenced to a fine by the prosecution.

On the morning of the 8th, Judge Lee Hwan-ki of the 4th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court held the first trial date for Kim Sae-ron, who was indicted on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving), and her passenger, Mr. A, who was also indicted on charges of aiding and abetting drunk driving.

Kim Sae-ron got behind the wheel while intoxicated at around 8 a.m. on May 18 last year at Hakdong intersection in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. He was put on trial on charges of causing an accident in which he hit a street tree and a transformer several times.

Due to the accident, the area around the accident site was blacked out for approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. As a result, surrounding commercial areas suffered damage. Kim Sae-ron is known to have visited stores to apologize and pay compensation.

After the accident, Kim Sae-ron refused to have her blood alcohol level measured by the police, and the police took her blood at a nearby hospital. According to a blood sampling analysis conducted by the National Institute of Forensic Science, Kim Sae-ron's blood alcohol content was 0.2%, which is above the license revocation level (0.08%).

Kim Sae-ron, who appeared in court that day, admitted to all charges. He said, “This will never happen again. I am truly sorry. I am reflecting.”

The prosecution pointed out, "He drove while drunk and caused an accident while his blood alcohol level was very high, but he fled without taking any action, so his crime is very serious." However, considering the fact that he admitted to all of the crimes and that it was his first offense, we are requesting a fine of 20 million won,” he said. He requested a fine of 5 million won for Mr. A.

Kang Min-kyung, Ten Asia reporter kkk39@tenasia.co.kr