A Seoul police inspector widely known as the real-life inspiration behind Ma Dong Seok's character in the hit crime film "The Roundup" has been booked on suspicion of driving under the influence after a minor collision.
Authorities familiar with the case confirm this. Officials say no injuries were reported, but the incident has drawn significant public scrutiny due to the officer's past notoriety.
AllKpop first reported details surrounding the arrest, noting that police issued official statements on the developing case. According to police reports on November 25, "the Seoul Suseo Police Station booked Inspector A on charges of driving under the influence in violation of the Road Traffic Act."
Coverage from YTN also outlined the events leading up to the booking. A neutral sentence precedes the description of the accident. Inspector A "is accused of causing a minor collision near Gangnam Severance Hospital in Dogok-dong, Gangnam District, at around 8:30 p.m. the previous evening while driving under the influence."
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Authorities confirmed that no one was harmed in the incident, but additional findings intensified the seriousness of the case. Reports stated that "Inspector A's blood alcohol concentration was above 0.08 percent—the threshold for driver's license cancellation in South Korea."
Police officials have since launched a broader inquiry. Officials said they are "currently investigating the circumstances of the case.."
Separate administrative steps were also taken following the incident. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency "has suspended Inspector A from duty and launched an internal inspection."
Inspector A gained public recognition several years earlier after appearing on a television variety program. During that broadcast, he was introduced as the real-life officer who helped dismantle the "Wang Geon" criminal organization, a group featured in "The Roundup," and the individual who served as the basis for Ma Dong Seok's on-screen character.
As the investigation continues, authorities have not disclosed additional identifying information about the officer, following standard practice for active internal reviews. Because he was in a well-known movie before, people are still very interested in him.
