Kim Tae-i (real name Kim In-sik, 29), a participant in Tving's ‘Transit Love 2’, was sentenced to prison in the first trial for drunk driving charges.
On the 12th, Chief Judge Jang Seong-jin of the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 21 held a sentencing hearing for Kim Tae-i regarding the violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (dangerous driving causing injury) and sentenced him to 1 year and 4 months in prison, with a 2-year suspended sentence. He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of community service and attend 40 hours of legal driving lectures.
Kim Tae-i was indicted for hitting a pedestrian while driving under the influence around 5 a.m. on September 15 of last year in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
At the time, his blood alcohol concentration was found to be 0.15%, exceeding the license revocation level (0.08% or higher).
In court, Kim Tae-i's legal representative stated, “While waiting for a designated driver, I couldn't resist the request of a parking attendant and moved the vehicle to the side, which led to the crime,” and added, “I deeply regret it. If given leniency, I will live my life reflecting on this incident to ensure it never happens again.”
However, the court stated, “The defendant's actions carry a high degree of danger and blameworthiness. The blood alcohol concentration is high, and the impact on the pedestrian was severe,” and noted, “The victim is expressing physical and mental suffering from the accident and is requesting severe punishment, and measures to prevent recidivism are also necessary.”
Additionally, it pointed out, “The defendant also made false statements to the responding police officers at the suggestion of an acquaintance who wanted to hide the fact that he was driving at the time of the incident,” and explained the reasons for sentencing by stating, “We considered the fact that he fully acknowledged his wrongdoing and showed remorse, that he was asked to move the vehicle while waiting for a designated driver and drove a short distance, and that the victim's injuries were not severe.”
