Death of child killed by drunk driver sparks anger

Nine-year-old girl Bae Seung-ah was rushed to a hospital unconscious. She was declared dead 10 hours later at 1 a.m. Sunday morning, having failed to regain consciousness. The driver has not yet made any contact, much alone apologize.

A child places a flower on a memorial set up in Daejeon for Bae Seung-ah, a 9 year old who was killed by a drunk driver on the weekend. [YONHAP]

Public anger over the death of a 9-year-old killed by a drunk driver over the weekend is intensifying, particularly since the offender has reportedly failed to apologize to the bereaved family.

According to Daejeon Dunsan Police Station, the accident occurred at 2: 21 p.m. Saturday. Four children between the age of 9 and 12 were run by a vehicle that swerved from the other side of the road after it hit the sidewalk.

Released video footage clearly shows the vehicle out of control when entering the road on a left turn.

The accident happened in a school zone where the maximum speed limit is 30 kilometers per hour (18.6 miles per hour).

Nine-year-old girl Bae Seung-ah was rushed to a hospital unconscious. She was declared dead 10 hours later at 1 a.m. Sunday morning, having failed to regain consciousness.

The 65-year-old driver was heavily intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of 0.124 percent, far above the 0.08 percent limit for having a license revoked.

The 26-year-old brother of the girl, who requested anonymity, said in a radio interview Monday that the driver has not yet made any contact, much alone apologize.

“What I understand is that the driver was so heavily intoxicated that he struggled when being interrogated,” the brother said. “He wasn’t able to collect himself for two days.”

The bereaved family is demanding a severe penalty against the drunk driver.

The driver Monday apologized to the family on his way to court where his arrest warrant was reviewed by a judge.

According to the police, the man had drinks with friends and drove 7 or 8 kilometers before the accident happened.

The man had no prior convictions.

The drunk driver that killed a 9 year-old being escorted by the police on Monday in Daejeon to a district court where his arrest warrant will be reviewed by a judge. [YONHAP]

A small memorial was set up in front of the school where the accident happened. People left flowers, toys and candies that the girl would have liked.

Public anger surged online, especially in internet forums for mothers, with some commenters blaming weak penalties for the continued death of children at the hands of drunk drivers.

One post even called for the death penalty or life sentences for drunk drivers who kill children.

On Christmas Eve of 2019, the National Assembly approved a reform bill calling for aggravated punishments of specific crimes.

The act, commonly referred to as “Min-sik's Law,” intensified punishments on drivers who harm or kill a child in a child protection zone, including school zones.

The law went into full effect from March 2020.

The law was named after 9-year-old Kim Min-sik, who was killed by a car in a school zone.

A driver could face jail time of 15 years or a 30 million won ($22,000) fine if they injure a child 13 years old or younger in a school zone with a speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour while under the influence of alcohol other substances.

However, the penalty could increase to life if the child is killed.

A person who is caught drunk driving without harming anyone can receive a maximum of 5 years in jail or 20 million won in fines.

A year before Min-sik's Law, the National Assembly passed the so-called Yoon Chang-ho Law, which imposed a maximum of life in prison for drunk drivers who kill people with their vehicles.

While the number of children injured or killed from accidents in school zones has slightly dropped since the Min-sik Law was enacted, from 595 in 2019 to 510 in 2020, the number rose to 565 in 2021 due to relaxed Covid-19 social distancing restrictions.

Last year, another major drunk driving accident occurred in front a school that killed 9-year-old Lee Dong-won.

The 39-year-old driver with a blood alcohol level of 0.128 percent hit Lee, who was just coming out of school, with an SUV.

The driver was unaware of what he had done but returned to the scene 43 seconds after he parked his car at his nearby resident.

The driver owns a taxi company in Songpa District and is currently on trial. He denies that he committed a hit and run or that he failed to take proper actions to save the child's life after hitting him with his car.

A drunk drivers’ car smashed on the side walk near a school in Daejeon on Saturday. The car hit four children one of which died the following day. [YONHAP]

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]