Today, Judge Kim Ji Joung of the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 25 presided over the trial of DJ Yesong, a woman in her 20s, facing charges of dangerous driving resulting in death under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. A proposed 15-year prison sentence looms large for DJ Yesong, following her involvement in a fatal hit-and-run incident while driving under the influence in central Gangnam, Seoul.
Prosecutors asserted during the trial, she engaged in two traffic accidents while heavily intoxicated, one leading to a fatality. Despite the loss of life, she evaded responsibility by blaming the victim, displaying a grave lack of accountability. The prosecution sought a 15-year prison term and the seizure of her Mercedes Benz sedan along with its keys.
The victim, a man in his 50s identified as Mr. A, succumbed to excessive bleeding caused by the accident, enduring immense physical pain and unforeseen mental anguish before his death. He was struck at 4:30 AM on February 3. DJ Yesong fled the scene with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.221%. His death left unexpected funeral costs, financial hardship, and the enduring grief of losing a loved one on the shoulders of his remaining family members.
In her final statement, Ms. An expressed tearful remorse, saying, "At the time, I had no scheduled DJ performances, which disrupted my life, and I attended a gathering for financial reasons where I could not refuse the drinks. I deeply regret having caused irreparable harm to the victim due to my mistake. I kneel and apologize to the victim who lost his life because of me. I have committed an unforgivable sin against the family who lost their loved one."
The first trial verdict for Ms. An is scheduled for July 9. She faces up to 15 years in prison. Yesong debuted as a member of the K-pop group Instar in 2019 before becoming a career DJ.