"If You Drink and Drive in the Festive Year-End Mood..." Two-Month Crackdown and Strict Penalties Announced

[Financial News] The police will launch a large-scale, two-month special crackdown on drunk driving.
The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) announced on the 27th that, in cooperation with Autonomous Police Commissions across each city and province, it will carry out a special crackdown on drunk driving from December 1 to January 31 of next year.
According to the KNPA, there were 8,107 drunk driving traffic accidents from January to last month this year, an 11.0% decrease compared to 9,106 cases the previous year. The number of fatalities also dropped by 36.7%, from 120 to 76 over the same period. The agency explained that continued special crackdowns, intensive public awareness campaigns, and tougher penalties for obstructing breathalyzer tests—so-called 'drinking tricks'—have contributed to these improvements.
However, with recent incidents such as a foreign tourist killed by a drunk driver and growing public outrage over drunk driving, as well as the increase in year-end gatherings, the police are concerned that vigilance may wane. As a result, they have decided to intensify drunk driving enforcement during the holiday season.
To this end, simultaneous nationwide checkpoints will be held every Friday. Each provincial police agency will conduct at least two large-scale operations per week. In addition to these coordinated crackdowns, local police will also conduct targeted checks during morning commutes and lunchtime hours to prevent driving under the influence of residual alcohol or during meals. The effectiveness of enforcement will be further enhanced by frequently relocating checkpoints without prior notice.
A KNPA official stated, "If an accident occurs due to drunk driving, offenders will face aggravated penalties for Dangerous Driving Resulting in Death or Injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. Habitual drunk drivers will have their vehicles confiscated, and driver’s licenses will also be revoked under the Road Traffic Act. We urge everyone to avoid drunk driving, especially during the festive year-end season."
welcome@fnnews.com Jang Yu-ha Reporter