[Herald DB]
[Herald DB]

The Gwangju District Court's Criminal Division 4, presided over by Judge Kim Dong-wook, overturned the original ruling Friday and sentenced Choi, 43, to one year in prison on appeal on charges including violation of the Act on Punishment of Violent Acts (joint intimidation).

The court said a prison term was warranted given that Choi had reoffended despite knowing his actions were illegal — having previously received a summary order for a similar offense. However, it found the original sentence of one year and six months somewhat excessive in light of his belated remorse and his settlement with the victim's bereaved family during the appeals process.

Choi was indicted on charges of directly and indirectly causing a fatal traffic accident at around 3:50 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2024, on a road in Sanwol-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju.

Choi operated a YouTube channel called "Damyang Duck," which focused on hunting suspected drunk drivers. He reported a sport utility vehicle driven by a man in his 30s, identified only as A, to police as a suspected drunk-driving vehicle and livestreamed the ensuing chase.

Two other vehicles driven or occupied by subscribers to the channel also joined the pursuit. A, fleeing the chase, crashed into a parked heavy-duty truck and died in the fire that broke out in his vehicle.

The charges against Choi also included an incident in December 2023 in which he confined a driver — who had not been drinking — by preventing the person from getting out of their vehicle.


sij@heraldcorp.com