A man in his 30s has been arrested in Seoul for a drunk driving incident that killed a Japanese mother and injured her daughter near Dongdaemun Station. The Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant citing concerns over flight risk. The suspect expressed 'I'm sorry' to reporters when asked about the victim's family.
On Sunday, November 3, around 10 p.m., a man in his 30s surnamed Seo was driving an electric vehicle while intoxicated and struck a Japanese mother and daughter who were crossing the street at an intersection near Dongdaemun Station in Seoul, a popular shopping and tourist area. The mother in her 50s was killed in the crash, while her daughter sustained injuries. The victims were on a three-day trip to South Korea and were heading to Naksan Park at the time.
During the arrest warrant hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m., Seo appeared with his hands tied and told reporters, "I'm sorry," when asked if he had anything to say to the victim's family. The court issued the warrant to detain him, citing concerns that he may attempt to flee. Seo has reportedly told police he is willing to cover the costs of transporting the victim's body and funeral expenses.
Police said they will continue to investigate the cause of the accident and related circumstances. The incident has raised concerns about tourist safety in Seoul's busy districts.