Learn Korean: Declining Rates of Drunk Driving

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Korean Reading Practice

"요즘 누가 술 먹고 운전하나"...음주운전 경험률 급...

Date: February 23, 2026

Introduction

This reading material discusses the declining rates of drunk driving in South Korea over the past decade. It examines how the experience of drunk driving has significantly decreased among Korean adults, particularly among younger generations.

Vocabulary

Korean Romanization Meaning Example
음주운전 eumjuungeon drunk driving 음주운전은 위험한 행동입니다.Drunk driving is a dangerous behavior.
경험률 gyeongheomryul experience rate 음주운전 경험률이 감소했습니다.The drunk driving experience rate has decreased.
격차 gyeokcha gap, difference 세대별 격차가 나타났습니다.A generational gap was observed.
하락세 halakseol downward trend 음주운전율이 하락세를 보이고 있습니다.The rate of drunk driving has shown a downward trend.
동승률 dongsseungryul passenger rate 음주운전 차량 동승률이 낮아졌습니다.The passenger rate in drunk driving vehicles has decreased.
지적되다 jijeoktoeida to be pointed out 음주운전이 사회적 문제로 지적되고 있습니다.Drunk driving is being pointed out as a social problem.
급감 geubgam to decrease sharply 음주운전 경험률이 급감했습니다.The drunk driving experience rate has decreased sharply.
상대적 sangdaejeoek relatively 젊은 층의 음주운전율이 상대적으로 낮습니다.The drunk driving rate of the younger generation is relatively low.
성인 seongin adult 성인의 음주운전 경험률이 감소했습니다.The drunk driving experience rate of adults has decreased.
연간 yeongan annual 성인의 연간 음주운전 차량 동승률이 낮아졌습니다.The annual passenger rate in drunk driving vehicles among adults has decreased.

Reading Text

최근 연구 결과에 따르면, 우리나라 성인의 음주운전 경험률이 10년 사이 크게 감소한 것으로 나타났습니다.

According to recent research, the drunk driving experience rate among Korean adults has decreased significantly over the past 10 years.

2013년에는 성인의 12.6%가 음주운전을 경험했지만, 2023년에는 2% 초반까지 떨어졌습니다. 이는 약 6분의 1 수준으로 급감한 것입니다.

In 2013, 12.6% of adults had experienced drunk driving, but by 2023, this rate had dropped to just over 2%, a decrease of about one-sixth.

연령대별로 보면, 젊은 층의 음주운전율이 상대적으로 낮은 것으로 나타났습니다. 이를 통해 세대 간 격차를 확인할 수 있습니다.

When looking at the data by age group, the drunk driving rate was relatively lower among the younger generation. This indicates a generational gap in this issue.

성인의 연간 음주운전 차량 동승률도 크게 감소했습니다. 2013년 14.9%에서 2023년 3.3%로 낮아진 것입니다.

The annual passenger rate in drunk driving vehicles among adults has also decreased significantly, from 14.9% in 2013 to 3.3% in 2023.

이러한 하락세는 음주운전에 대한 사회적 인식 개선과 강력한 처벌 등 정부의 노력이 효과를 거둔 것으로 보입니다.

This downward trend seems to be the result of the government's efforts to improve social awareness and impose strict punishments for drunk driving.

앞으로도 음주운전 예방을 위한 다양한 정책과 교육이 필요할 것으로 보입니다. 이를 통해 음주운전 문제를 지속적으로 개선해 나갈 수 있을 것입니다.

Going forward, various policies and education programs will be necessary to prevent drunk driving. This will allow us to continuously improve this issue.

Grammar Points

-지만 but / however

Attach -지만 to a verb/adjective stem to mean 'but' or 'however', contrasting two clauses.

📖 2013년에는 성인의 12.6%가 음주운전을 경험했지만, 2023년에는 2% 초반까지 떨어졌습니다. In 2013, 12.6% of adults had experienced drunk driving, but by 2023 it had dropped to the low 2% range.

✏️ 오늘 날씨가 맑지만 바람이 많이 불어요. The weather is clear today, but it's very windy.

-ㅂ/습니다 formal polite statement

The formal polite sentence-ending -ㅂ/습니다 is attached to a verb stem to make a polite, formal statement.

📖 최근 연구 결과에 따르면, 우리나라 성인의 음주운전 경험률이 10년 사이 크게 감소한 것으로 나타났습니다. According to recent research results, the drunk driving experience rate among adults in our country has significantly decreased over 10 years.

✏️ 저는 매일 아침 커피를 마십니다. I drink coffee every morning.

Cultural Notes

In South Korea, drunk driving has long been a significant social issue. However, the government and society have made concerted efforts in recent years to address this problem through stricter laws, increased public awareness campaigns, and enhanced enforcement. The declining rates of drunk driving experience and passenger rates suggest that these efforts are starting to yield positive results, particularly among the younger generation. Continued focus on preventive measures and education will be crucial to further reduce the incidence of drunk driving in Korea.

Source: 네이버 뉴스 | Original Article
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📝 Comprehension Questions

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Q1

음주운전 경험률이 어떻게 변화했는지 설명하세요.

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Q2

세대별 음주운전율의 차이는 어떻게 나타났나요?

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Q3

성인의 연간 음주운전 차량 동승률은 어떻게 변화했습니까?

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Q4

음주운전 감소 추세의 원인은 무엇이라고 생각하나요?

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Q5

앞으로 음주운전 예방을 위해 어떤 노력이 필요할까요?

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