Comedian Lee Hyuk-jae, 54, was booked by police after crashing into a motorcycle that was waiting at a light while driving under the influence.
The Incheon Yeonsu Police Station said on the 9th that it booked Lee Hyuk-jae without detention on suspicion of drunken driving under the Road Traffic Act.
Lee Hyuk-jae is suspected of driving a car after drinking and crashing into a motorcycle that was waiting at a light at the intersection in front of the Korea Coast Guard in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, at about 10 p.m. on the 8th.
Lee Hyuk-jae's blood alcohol level measured at the scene by police was reported to be between 0.03% and less than 0.08%, the license suspension range.
According to Yonhap News, Lee Hyuk-jae said he caused the accident while driving after having 1–2 drinks with dinner at a restaurant near his home, and then called police himself.
Lee Hyuk-jae said, "I dropped my cell phone while heading to my home, which was an ambiguous 300–500 meters away to call a designated driver for, and as I tried to pick it up, the car moved forward slightly and the accident happened."
He added, "While I was waiting to make a left turn, I bent down and didn't see a delivery motorcycle come in front of me," and "After the accident, I called police myself, handled the insurance, and said I would be investigated."
A police official said, "We booked the case on suspicion of drunken driving, and if the victim driver's injury is confirmed, a charge of injury under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents could also be applied."
Lee Hyuk-jae has also been embroiled in several controversies in the past.
In 2010, he suspended his activities in the entertainment world after coming under investigation on suspicion of assaulting a manager and an employee at an entertainment bar in Incheon while demanding "send in the hostesses," and later returned.
He was later fined on suspicion of failing to pay wages and other dues to an employee of a performance planning company he ran, and he was also listed among high-amount tax delinquents disclosed by the National Tax Service.
Ahead of the June 3 local elections this year, controversy arose when he took part as a judge in the People Power Party's proportional representation youth audition for metropolitan councilors.