Actor Lee Jae-ryong, who is accused of fleeing after a drunk driving accident, is reported to have attended three gatherings before the accident.
Lee Jae-ryong appeared at the Seoul Gangnam Police Station on the afternoon of the 10th at about 2 p.m. as a suspect and was questioned on allegations of drunk driving and hit-and-run under the Road Traffic Act. He was originally scheduled to be questioned by police at about 3 p.m. that day, but reportedly appeared at the police station about an hour earlier to avoid reporters.
After about four hours of questioning, Lee Jae-ryong appeared at about 6 p.m. and bowed his head, apologizing to reporters, saying, "I am truly sorry for causing concern to many people because of my wrong actions," and adding, "I told the truth in the police investigation, and I will sincerely follow the legal procedures to come. Once again, I apologize for my wrongdoing."
When asked, "Why did you continue to drive after hitting the guardrail?" he answered, "I did not realize it." To other questions such as "Why did you drive again despite a prior drunk driving record," "With whom and where did you drink," and "Why did you deny the charges at first," he kept his answers brief with responses like "I was wrong" and "I'm sorry."
Lee Jae-ryong is accused of driving a vehicle near Samseong Jungang Station on Seoul Subway Line 9 at about 11 p.m. on the 6th, hitting a central divider and fleeing. The central divider was damaged in the accident, and there were no human injuries. Immediately after the accident, Lee Jae-ryong parked the vehicle at his home, visited an acquaintance's house, and was arrested by police at about 2 a.m. the next day. His blood alcohol concentration was reported to be at the level for license suspension.
In his first questioning, Lee Jae-ryong denied the charges, saying he was not intoxicated while driving, but on the 7th he reversed his statement and admitted to drinking, saying, "I drank four shots of soju before the accident." However, he denies the so-called "sultagi" allegation that he intentionally drank more at an acquaintance's house after the accident to obstruct the police alcohol test.
Meanwhile, according to a report by the JoongAng Ilbo, during the police questioning on the 10th Lee Jae-ryong said, "There were three gatherings before the accident," and testified that "I did not drink before the last dinner gathering, and I drank four shots of soju only at the dinner gathering held around 7 p.m. that day." Police have obtained CCTV of the drinking scene at the time and are currently investigating the possibility that he drank at other gatherings before dinner.
Meanwhile, Lee Jae-ryong was also charged in 2003 with a drunk driving accident and refusing a breath test, resulting in the cancellation of his license. In 2019 he received a suspended prosecution disposition for allegedly causing damage while intoxicated by damaging a bowling alley sign in an area of Gangnam District, Seoul. On top of that, he is facing public criticism over a third drinking controversy. Moreover, because his wife Yoo Ho-young recently returned to acting after 11 years through the KBS2 weekend drama Recipe For Love, criticism has intensified over Lee Jae-ryong's actions, which have poured cold water on her return.
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