Korean Executive Arrested for Drunk Driving at 6 Times Legal Limit in Japan

A Korean man in his 40s was arrested in Fukuoka, Japan after being caught driving with a blood alcohol level far exceeding the legal limit.

According to Japanese broadcaster Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting on Friday (local time), Lee, a 43-year-old company executive of Korean nationality residing in Fukuoka (Japanese name: Miyamoto Yoshitaka), was arrested on the spot on suspicion of drunk driving in the early hours of the day.

Local police spotted a vehicle moving erratically on a road in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City at around 3:30 a.m. and immediately ordered it to stop. Police officials said the man was so intoxicated when they approached him that he could barely articulate his words.

A subsequent breathalyzer test showed a reading approximately six times the legal limit, leading police to arrest him on the spot, according to reports.

However, Lee reportedly denied the charges during questioning, saying, "I was driving, but I didn't drink. I don't know what to do."

Local police are conducting further investigation into the exact circumstances of his drinking and his movements at the time.

In Japan, drunk driving offenses are classified into two categories based on intoxication level: "drunk driving" and "driving under the influence." These apply when alcohol levels are 0.25 mg or higher per liter of breath and between 0.15 and 0.25 mg, respectively. For "drunk driving," the driver or anyone who provided a vehicle to a drunk driver faces up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 1 million yen (approximately 9.4 million won).