"Minor accident, I don't usually drink much"... Lee Hyuk-jae, making excuses after drunk driving [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Comedian Lee Hyuk-jae (53), who caused an accident by hitting a motorcycle while drunk driving, offered an explanation that bordered on self-justification and sophistry.

The Yeonsu Police Station in Incheon announced on the 9th that it has filed a criminal case against Lee Hyuk-jae for suspected drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act and is currently investigating.

Lee Hyuk-jae faces charges of hitting the rear of a motorcycle waiting at a signal around 10 p.m. the previous day on a road in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, injuring the motorcycle driver, Mr. A. It is reported that Lee's blood alcohol concentration at the time of the accident was below the threshold for license suspension, ranging from 0.03% to less than 0.08%.

Regarding this, Lee Hyuk-jae admitted his fault in a phone call with StarNews on the 9th, saying, "The police told me that a 0.03% level could result in license suspension. There was nothing I could do. It was my oversight."

Explaining the situation at the time, he said, "I went to an izakaya about 300 meters from home because acquaintances asked me to come there, and I had one or two rounds of bomb drinks. Since the distance to my house was only 300 meters, I thought, 'Why call a substitute?' so I started driving."

He continued, "I was waiting at a signal. Being in the front row, I was sure there was no one ahead, but when I checked the dashcam later, I saw someone on a delivery motorcycle had stopped in front of me to make a left turn. I dropped my cigarette and while picking it up, the car slid slightly and lightly hit the back of the motorcycle."

Lee Hyuk-jae also emphasized that he reported the accident directly to the police immediately after it occurred and that it was not a major accident. He stated, "I did not try to evade drunk driving charges. Although the distance was short, I told the police about my drinking and underwent a breathalyzer test. I generally don't drink much, and I have never been caught in a drunk driving crackdown."

Furthermore, Lee Hyuk-jae repeatedly referred to the collision with the motorcycle as a "minor accident" or said he "handled the scene well before leaving," conveying an impression that the incident was resolved smoothly.

However, despite Lee's explanation, there remains dissatisfaction. The fact that it was a minor accident and that he reported it directly to the police does not absolve him of the act of driving while having consumed alcohol. Moreover, the prevailing opinion is that explanations such as "I generally don't drink much" or "I have never been caught in a drunk driving crackdown" are not words one would expect from someone who has been arrested without detention for causing a drunk driving accident.

In fact, netizens who learned of Lee Hyuk-jae's drunk driving scandal expressed critical opinions, stating things like, "The issue is not whether the distance was long or short, but that he drove while drunk," "It sounds as if they are implying the incident would have been buried had no accident occurred," "He doesn't appear to be wronged under any circumstances," and "They should have expected him to drink; driving a car for 300 meters is already a mistake."

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*This content was translated by AI.