It was true that birds of a feather flock together. Actor Lee Jae-ryong's second drunk driving incident has come to light, drawing renewed attention to his close friend An Jaewook's past drunk driving record. Criticism has continued as it emerged the two recently appeared together on a drinking variety show.
According to the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul on the 7th, Lee Jae-ryong is under police investigation on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act (failure to take action after an accident, etc.). He is accused of driving a vehicle around 2 a.m. that day near Samseongjungang Station on Seoul Subway Line 9, crashing into a central divider and then leaving the scene. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
It was reported that Lee Jae-ryong parked his car at his home immediately after the accident and then went to an acquaintance's house before being arrested by the police. Breath test results reportedly showed his blood alcohol concentration was at the level for license suspension, and police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident.
Notably, this is not Lee Jae-ryong's first drunk driving incident. In 2003 he was involved in an accident while intoxicated and was booked for refusing a breathalyzer test, resulting in the cancellation of his driver's license. In 2019 he was placed under summary prosecution suspension after damaging a standing sign at a bowling alley in Gangnam District, Seoul, while intoxicated.
Meanwhile, his close friend An Jaewook is also again being mentioned for having two prior drunk driving offenses. An Jaewook was caught for drunk driving in February 2019 and had his license suspended. At the time he was returning from a performance of the musical "Gwanghwamun Sonata" in Jeonju, had drinks, and the next day drove directly to Seoul when he was stopped in a crackdown.
Moreover, that was not his first offense. An Jaewook also had a record of a rear-end collision while driving under the influence after a drama wrap-up party in 2003. After the second arrest, he left the musicals "Hero" and "Gwanghwamun Sonata," from which he had been performing, and did not attend the recording of KBS 2TV "Problem Child in House."
Under heavy criticism at the time, An Jaewook went into self-reflection and resumed activities about five months later with the play "Misery." At the time he said at the production press conference that he knew there was criticism that his comeback was too soon, but he added that he thought hiding away was not the answer because he had nothing to do other than act.
Meanwhile, it has also been reexamined that the two recently appeared together on the drinking variety show "Zzanbro." On the broadcast, the two showed their fondness for drinking and talked about stories related to alcohol.
An Jaewook said, "Alcohol itself is more of a tool to brighten the atmosphere than an end in itself," and added, "I tell acquaintances to drink with a smile." However, his family's reactions were somewhat different. He said, "My daughter asked, 'again with the alcohol?'" and added, "My son said, 'Dad is an actor, so just pretend to drink and come back.'"
When MC Shin Dong-yeob asked, "Have you ever blacked out?" An Jaewook answered, "Not occasionally, but often." Actor Seong Ji-ru jokingly added, "When Jae-wook blacks out, I blackout too."
But after that scene was aired, some viewers expressed discomfort, questioning whether it was appropriate for celebrities with drunk driving records to appear on a drinking variety show.
[Photo] OSEN DB, video capture
[OSEN]