Actor Lee Jae-ryong Admits to Drunk Driving After Hitting Median Barrier

Actor Lee Jae-ryong has admitted to drinking and driving after hitting a median barrier and fleeing the scene, according to police investigations.

On the 9th, reports from various media outlets revealed that Lee confessed during a police investigation on the 7th, the day after the incident, stating, "I drank four shots of soju and thought I had only slightly hit the median barrier."

Previously, on the night of the 6th, around 11 PM, Lee was driving near Samseong Jungang Station on Seoul's Subway Line 9 in Gangnam District when he collided with the median barrier and left the scene. He then parked his car at his home and moved to a friend's house, only to be apprehended by police at around 2 AM on the 7th. At that time, his blood alcohol concentration was confirmed to be at a level warranting license suspension.

Until now, Lee had denied drinking at the time of driving, claiming he drank at a friend's house. However, during recent investigations, he admitted to drinking four shots of soju before driving.

Lee Jae-ryong has a history of alcohol-related incidents. In 2019, he was sent to the prosecution for property damage after destroying a bowling alley sign while intoxicated. In 2003, he was booked for refusing a breathalyzer test after a drunk driving accident near Cheongdam Intersection in Gangnam, which led to his license being revoked.

The repeated alcohol-related controversies surrounding Lee have also drawn attention to his spouse, Yoo Ho-jung. Yoo recently returned to television after 11 years with the KBS 2TV weekend drama 'Prescription for Love' in January. However, her husband's drinking scandal is casting a shadow over her comeback.

Previously, Yoo Ho-jung appeared on the SBS variety show 'Healing Camp' and revealed that her husband's drinking was a source of marital conflict early in their marriage. She shared, "We argued constantly for about a year after getting married, and the reason was alcohol." Yoo also disclosed that she once left home due to Lee's frequent drinking.

Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr