Presidential pardons, usually given on National Liberation Day, Aug. 15, might help the bus driver behind the five-car pileup on Yeongdong Expressway receive a new driver‘s license, local news reports said.

Bang, the bus driver responsible for the crash that killed four and injured 37 on July 17, is currently being pressed in a criminal suit. However, the administrative penalty that nullified his driver’s license might be subject to presidential pardons.


Gangwon Pyeongchang Police, who are taking charge of the criminal case, passed Bang to the prosecutors on July 22 and requested his administrative region revoke his driver’s license.

Gyeonggi Nambu Police, who are in Bang’s residential area and are therefore dealing with the administrative side, has followed up on July 27.

The revocation of Bang’s driver’s license was based on the system of traffic violation demerits. For the accident he caused, Bang received a total of 680 demerits -- 90 demerits for each death he caused, 15 demerits for each seriously injured person, 5 demerits for each person with minor injuries, and 2 demerits for each shocked person. He was additionally penalized 10 points for violation of the obligation to drive safely. 

The 680 demerits he received became grounds to take away his license.


The current law stipulates that a collection of more than 121 demerits in a year automatically leads to revocation of a license, which cannot be reinstated for one year.

The one-year limit period applies to cases of violation of central line and illegal U-turns that resulted in casualties. Causing traffic accidents while driving under the influence and hit-and-runs are subject to a 5-year ban.

Bang admitted to dozing while driving but denied any drinking, subjecting him to a one-year ban.

If special pardons are carried out on Aug. 15, Bang might be legally able to reinstate his driver’s license even sooner.

In light of this information, the public is fiercely lambasting the lax regulation for traffic offenders. Many people are voicing their opinions online saying that it is against common sense to allow a person to drive just one year after causing an accident that killed lives.

Bang has a previous record of license suspension in 2014 after being found a three times offender of drunk driving. He regained his license in March 2016.

Gyeonggi Nambu Police said that nothing has been decided for this year’s NID, however, it is true that the government had let go of the drivers who had lost their license for accumulated demerits.

The government had previously given amnesty to offenders of traffic regulation for New Years in 2014 and National Liberation Day in 2015

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)