Food delivery workers call for severe punishment on drunk driving DJ

Industry

Published: 14 Feb. 2024, 11:20

Food delivery workers call for severe punishment on drunk driving DJ

Koo Kyo-hyun, the head of the Rider Union, a labor union for delivery riders, speaks in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul on Tuesday, calling for a strict and harsh punishment on a drunk driving offender. [YONHAP]

Food delivery workers are calling on prosecutors to impose a severe punishment on the club DJ who killed a rider in a deadly crash while driving drunk.

A total of 1,500 petitions written by delivery riders and members of the public were submitted to city prosecutors on Tuesday.

"Although laws governing drunk driving have improved over the years, punishments are still lenient. This makes our society tolerant of drunk driving," a Rider Union representative said during a press conference on the same day in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul.

Club DJ under fire after fatal car accident in Gangnam

The DJ, surnamed Ahn and in her 20s, was arrested for causing a fatal car crash on Feb. 3 in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, while driving under the influence of alcohol.

The rear-ended delivery rider, aged 54, was pronounced dead in the hospital.

"We will keep an eye on this case until the very last to see whether the offender gets fair and understandable punishment," according to the delivery worker labor group.

"The riders work on the road along with other laborers like parcel couriers and designated drivers for drinkers. Drunk driving is like an act of rampaging on roads while carrying a deadly weapon and risking others' lives," Koo Kyo-hyun, the head of the union, said.

The union also revealed results from a survey of 40 riders regarding their experiences related to drunk driving accidents.

More than one-third of respondents answered that they have been in such accidents or heard about accidents from colleagues. Nearly 60 percent said they had witnessed drunk driving while delivering food.

Respondents said they commonly observed abnormal driving patterns like weaving and swerving. Some said that they spotted drivers who fell asleep in their cars or who grabbed the wheels while staggering.

"Starting from last June to November, 20 union members jointly worked to report risk factors on the road and saved three endangered people. They also made a report about a drunk driving case," Chun Sung-bae, the head of a joint working group, said. "This year's activity will come at a larger scale and the members will oversee risk factors affecting road safety across Seoul."

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]