The Korean National Police Agency said on the 30th that it will launch a special crackdown on drunk driving for the summer vacation season. The intensive enforcement period runs from July 1 to Aug. 31.
The number of drunk driving busts last year was 105,875. That was down about 11% (12,999 cases) from 2024. The problem is that during the same period, the recidivism rate for drunk driving instead increased from 43.1% to 44%.
To root out drunk driving, police will conduct simultaneous nationwide crackdowns every Friday during the enforcement period. Separately, each city and provincial police agency will conduct two crackdowns a week. To boost effectiveness, police plan to use "mobile checkpoints" that move locations without notice.
Police also decided to actively seize the cars of habitual drunk drivers. Police seized 1,711 vehicles from drunk drivers over the past three years. Starting this year, in consultation with prosecutors, vehicles involved in drug-impaired driving will be added to the seizure list.
Investigations will also be strengthened. From the 1st of next month to Sept. 30, police will run an intensive investigation period for crimes related to habitual drunk driving and drug-impaired driving. They plan to actively apply charges of dangerous driving causing death or injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes to drunk- or drug-impaired drivers, and aiding and abetting drunk- or drug-impaired driving to passengers.
A Korean National Police Agency official urged, "Please cooperate so that no one, carried away by the festive vacation mood, makes a momentary wrong choice to drive drunk or under the influence of drugs."