On December 26, 2025, in the parking area of a hospital located in Wonju, Gangwon Province, an individual named A, who is in his 30s and has significant developmental disabilities, started a vehicle when his father temporarily left the keys inside. The car moved roughly 10 meters before colliding with two other vehicles. Fortunately, no one was injured, but A was obligated to pay around 36 million South Korean won in repair expenses to the affected vehicle owners. Moreover, A did not possess a valid driver’s license. On January 20, 2026, the police referred A to the prosecutor’s office for alleged violations of the Road Traffic Act, including driving without a license and causing property damage through negligence.
The prosecutor’s office initiated an investigation into the events that prompted A to start the car. As per the police inquiry, A’s specific comments about the reason or situation surrounding the incident were not recorded, due to his developmental disability which hindered him from offering a clear explanation. His father, who acted as his legal guardian, also suffered from significant developmental disabilities. The prosecution interviewed an expert from a facility supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and confirmed that A had started the vehicle solely to prevent it from freezing in the cold weather, without any intention of driving without a license.
The prosecution also took into account A’s difficult financial situation, which made it challenging for him to maintain a basic standard of living. Through the Criminal Mediation Committee, they facilitated discussions between A and the victims to adjust the compensation amount to a level that A could manage, and provided support for recovery via the Crime Prevention Council. They helped A apply for basic livelihood security and asked Pyeongchang County to submit a request for “specific guardianship,” a system in which a court-appointed guardian helps adults with limited decision-making abilities with certain legal and financial matters. The Korea Association of Parents of Disabled Persons was appointed as the guardian to offer continuous education and manage assets.
In the end, A did not face a trial. The “negligent property damage” charge was dropped because there was insufficient legal authority to proceed, following an agreement with the victims. Regarding the “unlicensed driving” charge, A was granted a suspended prosecution on June 23, 2026, provided that A completes a program at a support center for individuals with developmental disabilities. The prosecutor concluded that education, rather than punishment, was essential to prevent A from committing similar offenses in the future.
Regarding this case, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office has been broadening a trial initiative for “suspended prosecution with educational requirements for individuals with developmental disabilities.” In the past, local prosecutors’ offices needed to individually enter into agreements with probation departments or disability support organizations to carry out education-focused suspended prosecutions. However, since December 2025, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, the Ministry of Justice’s Probation Division, and the Korea Disabled People’s Development Institute have centralized the management of eligible suspects through probation offices. Presently, 15 prosecutors’ offices across the country are testing this system. For minor offenses where prosecutors believe that education is effective in preventing reoffending, and if the suspect and their guardian agree, a suspended prosecution with an educational condition can be imposed.
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