"Drank 4 Shots of Soju"… Actor Lee Jae-ryong Admits to Drunk Driving Accident in Gangnam, Investigation into 'Widmark' Underway

Actor Lee Jae-ryong (61) fled the scene after causing a drunk driving accident in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul, and eventually admitted to the crime. Particularly, it has been revealed that he has a history of multiple drunk driving offenses, leading to increased disappointment and criticism from the public.

◆ Crashed into dozens of meters of central divider and 'fled the scene'

According to a report by Yonhap News on the 9th, Lee Jae-ryong crashed his vehicle into the central divider near Samsung Central Station on Line 9 of the Seoul Subway around 11 PM on the 6th. The accident caused significant damage, with the central divider being destroyed over dozens of meters, but Lee Jae-ryong left the scene without taking any action and headed home. After moving to a friend's house, he was apprehended by the police who had followed him.

◆ "I drank 4 shots of soju" late admission… denies 'alcohol mixing' allegations

At the time of his arrest, Lee Jae-ryong's blood alcohol concentration was measured at a level that would lead to license suspension (0.03%~0.08%). However, there is a gap between the time of the accident and the arrest, raising the possibility that the actual level at the time of the accident was higher. On the 7th, the day after the accident, Lee Jae-ryong's lawyer officially admitted to the police, "I did drink 4 shots of soju before the accident." However, he denied the allegations of 'alcohol mixing' to interfere with the measurement after the accident, stating, "It was not intentional."

◆ Police applying 'Widmark' formula… "We will backtrack the levels at the time of the accident"

The Gangnam Police Department in Seoul is reviewing the application of the Widmark formula based on Lee Jae-ryong's statements, actions before and after the accident, vehicle black box, and CCTV footage. This method estimates the blood alcohol concentration at the time of the accident by calculating the amount of alcohol consumed, body weight, and time elapsed. The police plan to precisely verify whether Lee Jae-ryong was in a state of intoxication above the level that would lead to license cancellation at the time of the accident.

◆ Third incident following 2003 and 2019… branded as a habitual offender in 'drunk driving controversy'

The fact that this is not the first time Lee Jae-ryong has been involved in a drunk driving controversy adds to the shock. He had his license revoked in 2003 for refusing to take a breathalyzer test after a drunk driving accident, and in 2019, he was given a suspended prosecution for damaging a bowling alley sign while intoxicated. Since his debut in 1986, he has delivered reliable performances in works such as 'General Hospital' and 'Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin', leading to extreme feelings of betrayal among viewers due to his repeated moral failings.