Drunk driver rams military base gate to report soldier's affair with his wife

A man in his 30s who rammed a military base gate with his truck while heavily drunk — saying he wanted to report a soldier who had an affair with his wife — has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

The Yeoju Branch of Suwon District Court's Criminal Division 2, presided over by Judge Kim Su-jeong, sentenced the man, identified only as A, to three years in prison, suspended for five years, on charges including violation of the Military Bases and Installations Protection Act and drunk driving. The court also ordered 500 hours of community service.

A was indicted on charges of ramming and damaging the guardhouse gate of a military base in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province with his truck at around 1 a.m. on June 14, while heavily intoxicated.

His blood alcohol level at the time was 0.169 percent, sufficient for license revocation.

A had gone to the base intending to report to a superior officer a soldier he believed had previously had an affair with his wife.

When his demand to be let in was refused, A got into an altercation with guards before driving his truck into the gate. No one was injured, but the gate was damaged, causing about 5.5 million won ($4,110) in property damage.

The court said A "not only broke through the front gate of a military facility but continued to cause a disturbance." However, it said it took into account that A had no prior convictions other than one drunk driving offense and that he supports a family.