"It was indeed drunk driving, but I only had one or two drinks": Nancy Lang and Lee Hyuk-jae offer similar explanations [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Following artist and broadcaster Nancy Lang (50, real name Park Hye-ryung), comedian Lee Hyuk-jae (53) has also been caught up in a drunk driving controversy. Coincidentally, their explanations bear some resemblance to each other.

The Seoul Gangnam Police Station reported on the 8th that Nancy Lang was formally charged with drunk driving. A police official told StarNews, "Nancy Lang was charged for drinking and driving around 3:45 a.m. in Seoul Gangnam-gu and was allowed to return home from the scene. We cannot comment on whether she was 'drunk' from our perspective, but it is accurate that her blood alcohol concentration was at or above 0.08%, which is the level for license revocation."

The police stated they plan to investigate the specific circumstances of the incident and added, "We will schedule a summons for further investigation; the date has not yet been determined."

In response, Nancy Lang told StarNews on that day, "There are parts in the currently reported content that differ from the facts. I was not taken into custody early this morning (8th), nor did I go to the police station. There is no fact of being detained or formally charged at a police station. With the help of an acquaintance, I returned home safely."

She continued, "I admit that it was a careless judgment on my part to get behind the wheel after having one or two glasses of champagne at an acquaintance's birthday gathering yesterday (7th) because my home was nearby. However, I want to emphasize that terms like 'drunk,' 'arrested,' 'formally charged,' and 'taken to the police station' do not reflect the actual situation."

Nancy Lang's agency, Megaton Entertainment, also explained, "They measured her alcohol level when she was almost home. She had only one or two glasses of champagne. It was not a state of drunkenness nor at the level for license revocation."

Subsequently, the Incheon Yeonsu Police Station announced on the 9th that Lee Hyuk-jae was formally charged without detention under the Road Traffic Act for drunk driving. According to police, Lee Hyuk-jae is suspected of causing injury to a man in his 20s, identified as motorcycle rider A, by rear-ending his motorcycle while waiting at a traffic signal on a road in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon around 10 p.m. on the 8th. It was reported that Mr. A was not seriously injured.

At the time of the accident, Lee Hyuk-jae's blood alcohol concentration was estimated to be between 0.03% and below 0.08%, which corresponds to the level for license suspension. It is also known that there were no passengers in the vehicle.

Regarding this, Lee Hyuk-jae stated in a telephone interview with StarNews on the 9th, "I went to an izakaya about 300 meters from my home because acquaintances asked me to come, and I had one or two drinks of bomb shots." He further explained, "I said I was going home, but since it was only 300 meters away, I thought, 'Why should I have someone drive for me?' so I started driving the car myself."

He stated that the accident occurred at an intersection near his home. Lee Hyuk-jae said, "I was waiting at a red light, and since I was in the front, there was definitely no one ahead of me. Later, when I checked my dashcam footage, I saw that a delivery motorcycle rider had stopped in front of me to make a left turn."

Regarding the circumstances of the accident, he explained, "I dropped my phone and while picking it up, the car slowly rolled forward and slightly hit the back of the motorcycle. I thought the vehicle was in auto-hold mode with the brake engaged, so I picked up my phone, but then the car moved."

Lee Hyuk-jae emphasized that he reported the accident to the police directly immediately after it happened. He said, "I was worried, so I reported it to the police first. No one else reported it in an attempt to evade drunk driving charges. I told the police that although the distance was short, I had been drinking, and they conducted a breathalyzer test."

Regarding the results of the alcohol test, he said, "I generally don't drink much and have never been caught for drunk driving before. I had about two bomb shots, and even that amount resulted in an immediate measurement. The police told me that 0.03% could lead to a license suspension. There was nothing I could do. It is my fault."

He also conveyed his apologies to the accident victim, Mr. A. Lee Hyuk-jae stated, "From what I could see with my own eyes, it was a very minor accident, and it was recorded as such on my dashcam. I told them at the scene that whether it involved personal injury or property damage, we would handle it through insurance and asked them to contact me, and I apologized." He added, "The victim also said they would file an insurance claim and receive treatment. I told them to let me know if there was any direction they preferred."

Regarding this accident, Lee Hyuk-jae repeatedly acknowledged his own fault while emphasizing that it was not a major collision.

He said, "This was not an accident involving damage to vehicles or property. I handled the scene well, but driving after drinking was my mistake. I briefly stepped out from an acquaintance's gathering and, since we couldn't avoid drinking together, I drank. I am very sorry."

He then added, "I did not shamelessly flee or attempt to hide. I reported it to the police first, and I will diligently cooperate with the investigation."

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*This content was translated by AI.