Actor Lee Jae-ryong is under police investigation on suspicion of a drunk driving accident, and a past anecdote in which his wife, actress Yoo Ho-jeong, ran away because of his drinking is being reexamined.
On the 7th, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station said Lee Jae-ryong is being investigated on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act (failure to take measures after an accident). At around 2 a.m. that day, near Samseong Jungang Station on Seoul Subway Line 9 in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, he allegedly drove a vehicle while intoxicated, collided with a center divider and left the scene.
In particular, it is reported that right after the accident Lee Jae-ryong left the scene, parked his vehicle at his home, went to an acquaintance's house and was then caught by police, which has caused shock. At the time, Lee Jae-ryong's blood alcohol concentration was reported to be at the level for license suspension, and the police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident. Lee Jae-ryong is reported to have insisted, "I was not intoxicated while driving."
News of Lee Jae-ryong's traffic accident exposure has led to the exhumation of past remarks related to drinking. Lee Jae-ryong revealed that when he appeared on the SBS variety show "Healing Camp: Isn't It Fun" in May 2015, rumors of discord and separation with his wife Yoo Ho-jeong over alcohol had arisen.
On that broadcast, Yoo Ho-jeong said, "We fought for a year after marriage. It was because of drinking, and after that problem was resolved we didn't fight," she said. In response, Lee Jae-ryong said, "They told me to meet a woman rather than drink," which drew attention. Yoo Ho-jeong was speaking out of concern for her husband, who drinks often.
Meanwhile, he also mentioned the anecdote that Yoo Ho-jeong ran away and separation rumors swirled because of Lee Jae-ryong's drinking. Lee Jae-ryong said, "When I threw a tantrum, my wife went to her parents' home and said she wouldn't live with me," and began, "It started with drinking. It was when I drank a lot and came home and overslept in the morning (because of drinking) so there was no time to shower and go out. So my hair was a mess and I asked her to blow-dry it to death. But when my wife did my hair it felt like she did it a bit halfheartedly."
Lee Jae-ryong continued, "It would have been like, 'Hurry up! There's no time.' So my wife was like, 'I'm the one who knows how to do this!' Then when I said, 'Don't do it, leave it!' my wife closed the door and left. Because I was young it hit me suddenly. I might have slammed the door or left, in that situation the door was broken. I left without knowing that situation," and he explained, "When I came home in the evening my wife wasn't there. I called but she didn't answer."
Lee Jae-ryong said, "Some kids called saying let's drink so I said okay and went out. I later found out she had gone to her parents' home that day. She said she couldn't live with someone who throws tantrums," and added, "I went to pick her up after a week. It was so good. Three to four days is comfortable. Before marriage I lived freely, but after marriage..."
Listening to Lee Jae-ryong, Yoo Ho-jeong said, "I'm getting angrier all over again," and said, "Memories of that time keep coming back and I'm getting angry again. For several consecutive days he broke promises to me and eventually came home at dawn," recounting the situation at the time.
The episode of Yoo Ho-jeong and Lee Jae-ryong's separation rumors due to drinking has regained attention along with this drunk driving suspicion.
Lee Jae-ryong was not only involved in this incident but was also booked in 2003 after a drunk driving accident when he refused a breath test and had his license revoked at the time. In 2019 he was sent to prosecutors on a charge of damage to property for destroying a signboard while intoxicated and received a suspended prosecution.
[Photo] SBS broadcast capture.
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