Police Catch Multiple Hungover Drivers Within 10 Minutes of Holiday DUI Crackdown

Jeju police caught multiple drivers with alcohol still in their systems within just 10 minutes of launching a holiday drunk driving crackdown, with most claiming they had been drinking the night before.

On Wednesday, officers from the Jeju Provincial Police Agency, Jeju Eastern Police Station, and the autonomous police unit conducted intensive drunk driving enforcement on roads near Georo Intersection in Geonip-dong, Jeju City. Within 10 minutes of beginning the operation, police breathalyzers began detecting alcohol.

One driver, identified only as A, recorded a blood alcohol content of approximately 0.012 percent, below the 0.03 percent threshold for legal penalties, and was released with a warning. The male driver, who had traveled about 2 kilometers, told police he "drank alcohol the night before." Further investigation revealed he had been driving without a valid license.

The crackdown continued for nearly two hours but found no drivers with alcohol levels high enough for license suspension or revocation. However, seven drivers were caught with residual alcohol from the previous night and were released with warnings. Most of them stated they had consumed alcohol the day before.

The Jeju Provincial Police Agency announced on December 27 that it would conduct drunk driving enforcement operations around the clock from December 1 through January 31 of next year, targeting the year-end and New Year period when drinking gatherings increase.

According to police data, drunk driving cases in Jeju from January through October this year totaled 2,346, a 10.8 percent increase from the same period last year.

"Drunk driving is a crime that can destroy other people's lives and families," a Jeju police official said. "People must never get behind the wheel after drinking, even just one glass."