Shown above is the Genesis GV80 manufactured by Hyundai Motor. Hyundai Chairman Chung Eui-sun’s eldest son was recently indicted for allegedly making a drunk-driving accident in Seoul when his father was out of the country. Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor

22-year-old son's blood alcohol content amounted to 0.164%

The eldest son of Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun was indicted for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol last month when his father was out of the country.

The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Offices recently said that it slapped a fine of 9 million won ($7,700) in a summary indictment on the younger Chung for a drunk-driving offense charge.

The 22-year-old was accused of having hit a guard rail in eastern Seoul while driving a Hyundai SUV, dubbed the Genesis GV80, on early July 24.

Back then, his father was in Tokyo for the Olympic Games as the chairman of the Korea Archery Association. Chung took charge of the job midway through the 2000s.

Of note is that the Genesis GV80 is the same model that U.S. golfer Tiger Woods crashed in the Los Angeles area early this year, injuring his legs and putting his career in jeopardy.

The police reportedly found that the younger Chung’s blood alcohol content was 0.164 percent, which is far higher than the license revocation level of 0.08 percent.

Korean prosecutors tend to seek a summary indictment in less serious offenses, in which proceedings are executed in a written format and do not go to court.

It remains to be seen whether the younger Chung will only receive a fine because it is up to the court.

This June, the prosecution demanded a fine for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who allegedly had taken illegal propofol shots at a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul in 2017 and 2018.

But a Seoul court decided that the Samsung scion should face an official trial over the charges instead of merely paying a fine.

The country has a very strict law against driving under the influence as the violators with a blood alcohol concentration between 0.08 percent, and 0.2 percent can be subject to a jail term of up to two years.

“As no one was hurt by the offense, I don’t think that Chairman Chung’s son will go through a formal trial. His drive license will be revoked, though,” Daelim University automotive professor Kim Pil-soo said. “Hyundai would try to prevent the case from damaging the company’s reputation.”

A Hyundai spokesman refused to make comments on the issue.

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