It Was the First Day of a 'Filial Piety Tour' the Daughter Had Prepared... Tragedy Strikes Japanese Mother and Daughter in Korea

[Financial News] The fact that the Japanese mother and daughter hit by a drunk driver had come to Korea for a special trip to honor the mother has deepened the sense of tragedy.

On the 3rd, Seoul Hyehwa Police Station applied for an arrest warrant for a man in his 30s, identified as Mr. A, who struck a Japanese tourist mother and daughter while driving under the influence. At around 10 p.m. the previous day, Mr. A, intoxicated, drove an electric car and hit the Japanese mother and daughter as they were crossing the street at the Heunginjimun intersection near Dongdaemun. He faces charges of drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act and causing death or injury by dangerous driving under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
The mother, in her 50s, was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest but ultimately passed away. The daughter, in her 30s, suffered injuries to her knee and is receiving treatment. The two had traveled from Osaka to Korea for a three-day, two-night trip. After arriving that day, they finished shopping at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and were heading to Naksanseonggwak-gil when the accident occurred.
It was especially heartbreaking as the trip had been planned by the daughter, who frequently visited Korea, as a gesture of filial piety. The family is expected to arrive in Korea on the 4th to discuss and decide on funeral arrangements. The daughter wishes to repatriate her mother’s body to Japan, but is reportedly struggling with the cost, which is estimated at around 15 million won.

TV Asahi reported, 'A Japanese female tourist was killed by a drunk driver at a popular sightseeing spot in Seoul,' and pointed out that drunk driving is rampant in Korea.
TV Asahi added, 'The accident occurred at an intersection in Dongdaemun, known as the 'city that never sleeps.' The area is lined with clothing malls and markets that stay open until dawn, making it a popular destination for Japanese tourists who enjoy late-night shopping.'
The report continued, 'Drunk driving is widespread in Korea, with figures six times higher than in Japan. Over the past five years, there have been more than 70,000 drunk driving accidents and about 1,000 deaths, making it a serious social issue. Although Korea’s population is about half that of Japan, the number of traffic accidents caused by drunk driving is more than six times higher.'

The report also noted, 'The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) has released videos cracking down on drunk driving and is urging the public to be cautious, but accidents continue to occur.' Interviews with Seoul residents suggested, 'This is because the law regarding punishment is too lenient.'
Fuji News Network (FNN) also reported that Japanese tourists are feeling uneasy after the unexpected accident at a popular tourist spot in Seoul, quoting a Japanese visitor as saying, 'I was a bit shocked because I thought Korea was a safe country.'
Meanwhile, at the time of the accident, Mr. A’s blood alcohol concentration was above the license revocation threshold (0.08%). He had reportedly consumed three bottles of soju at a nearby restaurant and was so intoxicated that he could not remember whether he had driven. Mr. A has admitted to all charges in his statement to the police.
If prosecutors request a detention warrant for Mr. A, a pretrial detention hearing is expected to be held as early as the afternoon of the 4th at the Seoul Central District Court. Police plan to detain Mr. A and continue investigating the circumstances of the accident.
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter