Police conduct a special crackdown on reckless and aggressive driving. This photo is unrelated to the article. [Herald DB]
Police conduct a special crackdown on reckless and aggressive driving. This photo is unrelated to the article. [Herald DB]

Police in Daegu rounded up dozens of so-called Liberation Day road racers — drivers who wave the South Korean flag while performing dangerous stunts on public roads — in a sweep carried out Saturday.

The Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency apprehended 29 drivers on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act, including running red lights and crossing the center line while racing through the streets on Liberation Day.

Officers also arrested one rider who drove a motorcycle through Apsan Tunnel, a road restricted to motor vehicles, and referred the case for criminal charges.

Among those caught, five were driving without a license, 11 were driving under the influence, two were wanted persons, and one was found in violation of the Guarantee of Automobile Accident Compensation Act. Working with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority and the Daegu city government, police also booked 21 people for violations of the Automobile Management Act, including illegal vehicle modifications, and five for violations of the Noise and Vibration Control Act.

Police said they plan to investigate suspects identified through footage collected during the operation and pursue strict punishment.

From 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday, the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency deployed 187 officers — including plainclothes patrol teams, traffic investigation units and mobile units — along with 78 vehicles including patrol cars and sidecars, at 17 locations where road racers were expected to gather.

"We intercepted and dispersed the groups as they kept shifting locations to regroup," a police official said.


ehkim@heraldcorp.com