{
  "id": 7938736,
  "title": "5-year term upheld for drunk driver who killed Japanese woman",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/5-year-term-upheld-for-drunk-driver-who-killed-japanese-woman",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T03:37:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/law-crime/20260917/5-year-term-upheld-for-drunk-driver-who-killed-japanese-woman"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A court of appeals in Seoul has maintained a five-year prison sentence for a man in his thirties who was convicted of drunk driving and causing the death of a Japanese woman and her daughter. The appellate division, after dismissing the defendant's appeal, affirmed the ruling that there were no grounds to lessen his sentence or show him leniency. Identified only by his surname Seo, the defendant is alleged to have driven after consuming three bottles of soju on November 2 last year, striking the two women as they crossed a pedestrian crosswalk near Dongdaemun Station in Seoul's Jongno Ward. The mother, in her fifties, succumbed to her injuries in a nearby hospital's emergency room, while her daughter, in her thirties, suffered minor injuries. Seo's blood alcohol content was measured at 0.212 percent, considerably higher than the legal limit of 0.08 percent that would result in license suspension. The collision reportedly marked the first day of the women's three-day visit to South Korea. In early May, a Seoul Central District Court judge had sentenced Seo to five years in prison.",
  "summary": "A court of appeals on Thursday upheld a five-year prison sentence for a man in his 30s who was indicted for drunk driving in downtown Seoul and hitting a Japanese woman and her daughter last year, killing the mother. The appellate division of the Seoul Central District Court issued the ruling after dismissing the appeal filed by the man identified only by his surname Seo, saying there were no…",
  "key_points": [
    "Seoul appeals court upholds 5-year prison sentence for drunk driver.",
    "Defendant Seo, in his thirties, drove drunk on Nov 2, 2022.",
    "Seo's blood alcohol content was 0.212%, exceeding legal limit."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The appeals court's decision upholds a tough sentencing stance on drunk driving causing death, indicating little room for leniency in such cases and delivering a measure of justice for the victim's family.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "5-yr term upheld for drunk driver who killed Japanese woman",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/5-yr-term-upheld-for-drunk-driver-who-killed-japanese-woman",
        "published": "2026-09-17T03:16:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "5-year term upheld for drunk driver who killed Japanese woman",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/5-year-term-upheld-for-drunk-driver-who-killed-japanese-woman-7940864",
        "published": "2026-09-17T03:47:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}