PPP cries “murder” after ex-President Moon’s daughter charged with drunk driving

According to camera footage, a vehicle allegedly driven by Moon Da-hye appears to have carelessly changed lanes in front of the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon, Yongsan District in central Seoul at around 2:51 a.m. on Saturday. [JOONGANG PHOTO]

The conservative People Power Party (PPP) on Sunday criticized an alleged drunk-driving accident involving former President Moon Jae-in's daughter, comparing the behavior to “an act of murder.”

The comments came a day after several local media outlets reported that Moon Da-hye, daughter of former Liberal Democratic Party (DP) president, was caught driving under the influence (DUI).

According to the Seoul Yongsan Police Department, Moon Da-hye collided with a taxi behind her vehicle while changing lanes at 2:51 a.m. in front of Itaewon's Hamilton Hotel in Yongsan District on Saturday.

She was charged with a traffic violation for drunk driving. Her blood alcohol level was reportedly 0.14 percent, well above the legal limit of 0.08 percent – the limit for revoking a driver's license.

In a comment released by the PPP on Sunday, deputy spokesman Shin Joo-ho said the former president's daughter committed an act of “destroying other lives and murder,” which was not a simple mistake.

Shin cited remarks Moon Jae-in made during a presidential meeting with senior secretaries on October 10, 2018, as he called for stricter measures to curb drunken driving cases.

Rep. Kim Hee-jung of the PPP said Moon Da-hye “caused a car accident while driving under the influence late at night in Itaewon later this month to commemorate the victims of the deadly Itaewon stampede.”

The crowd accident claimed 159 lives in 2022.

During a press conference on Sunday, DP chief Park Chan-dae called Moon's drunk driving “an act that should never be committed.”

Park also said the party shared his stance.

According to the Yonhap news agency, the taxi driver was slightly injured in the accident. Police will also summon Moon Da-hye on Monday morning to further investigate the details of the accident.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG, HYEON YE-SEUL [[email protected]]