This 'drunk driving hunter' and his subscribers were sentenced to prison after their pursuit led to a fatal crash.
This YouTuber has made it his mission to catch drunk drivers and bring them to justice, but after one of his pursuits turned fatal, he is the one being sentenced in the name of justice.
The Drunk Driver Hunter
A 41-year-old man surnamed Choi has made his name as the "drunk driver hunter" on YouTube, roaming the streets of South Korea looking for his next catch. He broadcasts himself reporting and confronting drivers, who are behaving suspiciously and who he thinks are inebriated.
On September 22, 2024 at around 3:50 am, Choi was upon his usual business as he spotted a man in his mid-30s driving an SUV. He alerted authorities and reported the man for allegedly driving under the influence. The YouTuber livestreamed everything including the following chase of the suspicious SUV. The pursuit involved Choi and two other vehicles occupied by his subscribers.
The vigilantes approached the driver at a traffic light and asked whether he was driving under the influence. The accused man then drove off speeding for about 1.2 miles before crashing into a truck-trailer parked on the shoulder of the road.
Choi and his followers tried to provide emergency aid but the driver had died on impact and his car was destroyed by fire.
Sentenced
The vigilantes had to explain themselves in front of a judge on May 7, in the Gwangju District Court. The court found that they had created a dangerous situation, as Korea JoongAng Daily reports.
Seven of the YouTuber's subscribers were sentenced to either six months in prison, suspended for two years, or fines between 1 million and 2 million won ($689 to $1,370).
Choi himself was sentenced to one year and six months in prison on charges of joint intimidation and was immediately taken into custody.
We took part in the broadcast for social justice and in the hope that no one would be hurt by drunk driving, and we never intended to cause the victim’s death or any harm.
The defendants said in an attempt to deflect the blame.
Despite this plea for leniency, the court thought the vigilantes' actions were more private punishment than actions for public interest. And furthermore, they created a deadly scenario. So the defendants were found guilty on all charges. The victim's family had also asked for severe punishments.
A YouTuber, who contributed to the death of a suspected DUI offender by chasing them down for a YouTube livestream, was sentenced to prison and taken into custody in court on Thursday. https://t.co/a3t3CYyqNQ
— The Korea JoongAng Daily (@JoongAngDaily) May 7, 2026
The judge saw especially Choi in a position of responsibility as it was his broadcast and his lead, the others followed.
The defendant bears very heavy responsibility because he led the crime while broadcasting live on YouTube, exposing the identity of a driver suspected of drunk driving and engaging in a dangerous encirclement chase.
What makes this case especially damning is the fact that this is not the first time Choi has been arrested for this type of behavior.
It is also acknowledged that they committed the crime despite being aware of the risks, having been under investigation for similar offenses or having received summary orders, and that they engaged in a conspiracy in light of the process of their participation.
He was also facing charges over an incident in 2023, where he allegedly held a sober driver in their own vehicle.
This case raises difficult questions about the line between public justice and dangerous vigilantism. While Choi built his reputation on exposing drunk drivers and protecting others from harm, the court ultimately ruled that his methods crossed that line, turning a mission for public safety into a tragedy that cost a man his life and led to serious consequences for everyone involved. Honestly, just don't drink and drive.
