Koo Kyo-hyun (3rd from the left), chairman of the Riders’ Union, leads a group of riders as they head to the civil affairs office to submit a petition containing 1,500 signatures from delivery riders and citizens. The petition calls for stringent penalties against drunk driving offenders. This action follows a press conference held in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on Feb. 13, 2023, in Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Korea Bizwire) –Delivery riders in Seoul have submitted 1,500 petitions to the prosecution, demanding harsh penalties for a 20-year-old club DJ, identified only as Ahn, who caused a fatal accident by hitting a motorcycle delivery worker while driving under the influence of alcohol in Gangnam.
The incident has sparked outrage among riders and citizens alike, leading to a call for stricter enforcement of drunk driving laws.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union (Riders’ Union) held a press conference outside the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, emphasizing the need for a cultural shift towards zero tolerance for drunk driving.
“Although laws regarding drunk driving have been strengthened, the leniency in punishment has not changed, perpetuating a culture of leniency towards drunk driving. We will closely monitor to ensure that the perpetrator of this incident is properly punished,” stated the Riders’ Union.
Koo Kyo-hyun, chairman of the Riders’ Union, highlighted the dangers faced by delivery workers, who consider the roads their workplace. “For many workers, such as freight, courier, and substitute drivers, drunk driving by other vehicles is akin to someone barging into their workplace with a weapon and causing havoc,” he said.
The union also shared the results of an emergency survey on drunk driving incidents conducted among 40 riders during the holiday season. Over 30% of respondents reported either being involved in an accident with a drunk driver or hearing about such incidents involving their colleagues.
Additionally, 60% of the riders reported encountering drunk drivers on duty, witnessing dangerous behaviors such as swerving across lanes, falling asleep at the wheel, or stumbling into their vehicles after leaving bars.
One rider shared a traumatic experience from December 17 last year, when they were hit by a drunk driver, catapulted into the air, and then fell to the ground, resulting in ongoing hospital treatment and trauma.
The Riders’ Union plans to form a team to systematically monitor and report drunk driving incidents. “From June to November last year, 20 members organized a ‘Safety Keeper’ team, reporting over 500 cases of road damage and hazards, assisting in three rescues, and reporting one drunk driving incident.
This year, we plan to significantly expand our activities and monitor drunk driving and other road hazards throughout Seoul,” stated Jeon Seong-bae, who heads the Safety Keeper team.
Ahn, the DJ accused of killing the delivery worker in the early hours of March 3 in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, after drinking and then driving his Mercedes, is currently in custody and under investigation by the prosecution.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
