Comedian Lee Hyuk-jae, 54, is under police investigation on suspicion of crashing his car into a motorcycle while driving drunk.
Lee said he had a couple of "bomb" drinks — a mix of beer and soju — at a restaurant near his home before driving himself back. He said he dropped his phone along the way and crashed while trying to pick it up, then reported the accident to police himself.
Incheon's Yeonsu Police Station booked Lee on Wednesday, without physical detention, on charges of driving under the influence in violation of the Road Traffic Act.
Police allege that Lee, while intoxicated, drove his vehicle into a motorcycle stopped at a traffic light around 10 p.m. Tuesday.
The crash occurred at an intersection in front of the Korea Coast Guard headquarters in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon.
Lee's blood alcohol level, measured at the scene, fell within the range that triggers a license suspension — between 0.03 and under 0.08 percent.
Lee said he had one or two drinks over dinner at a restaurant near his home, then drove and caused the crash.
He said he then reported the accident to police himself.
"I had a couple of bomb drinks," Lee told Newsen. "I had just finished drinking and stepped out when that happened."
In a phone call with Yonhap, he said, "I left in the middle of dinner and was driving the 300 to 500 meters home — too short a distance to bother calling a designated driver — when I dropped my phone. As I reached down to pick it up, the car moved slightly forward and the crash happened."
He added, "I was waiting to turn left and had bent down, so I did not see the delivery motorcycle come up in front of me. After the accident, I reported it to police myself, took care of the insurance, and told them I would cooperate with the investigation."
A police official said, "We still need to confirm whether Lee actually reported the accident to police himself. The extent of the motorcycle rider's injuries has not yet been determined, and if injuries are confirmed, we will consider applying injury charges under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents."
yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com
