South Korean DJ accused of killing delivery rider while drunk and with pet dog on lap

South Koreans have railed at a DJ who is accused of killing a delivery rider while drink-driving and rejecting a breathalyser test, marking the latest in a string of alcohol-fuelled incidents that had turned fatal.

Police said a 54-year-old man died after he was knocked off his motorcycle last week by the suspect, surnamed Ahn, whose pet dog was sitting on her lap in her car at the time of the incident.

Ahn allegedly did not stop to help him, and the wheels came to a halt only after moving 100m from the accident spot.

If convicted, Ahn, who was arrested on Monday on suspicion of death due to dangerous driving, could be punished by life imprisonment.

Many South Koreans have denounced the accused, following eyewitness statements that Ahn had remained in the car holding her dog, declining to cooperate with police who tried to test her for drink-driving.

One onlooker told local media that the woman appeared not to understand the gravity of the situation and “just sat blinking her eyes while holding a dog”.

Ahn was also witnessed engaging in an argument with officers who attempted to separate her from the pet.

Police said she tested negative for drugs in a reagent test, adding that her hair samples would be sent to the National Forensic Service for a thorough analysis, The Korea Herald reported.

Some YouTubers exposed the identity of Ahn, prompting the DJ to change the settings on her social media accounts to private.

The case also highlighted South Korea’s entrenched drinking problem and the strong social pressure to participate in binge-drinking, The Herald said.

Government data showed more than 130,283 drunk drivers were caught in 2022, up from around 110,000 in the previous two years. Some 42 per cent of those caught were repeat