Korean Dictionary
How to say "Drunk Driving" in Korean
“Drunk Driving” in Korean is 음주운전 (pronounced "eumju unjeon").
음주운전
eumju unjeon
Usage & Context
음주운전 is a serious criminal offense in Korea with strict penalties including license suspension and imprisonment. Korea has significantly increased 음주운전 penalties in recent years following high-profile accidents. Designated driver services (대리운전) are very popular in Korea allowing drinkers to have a driver take them home safely.
Example Sentence
음주운전은 절대 해선 안 돼요.
You must never drive drunk under any circumstances.
How to use 음주운전 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Drunk Driving” is 음주운전, romanized as eumju unjeon.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 음주운전.
Pronunciation Guide
음 (eum) sounds like 'oom' in 'boom'. 주 (ju) is like 'joo' in 'juice'. 운 (un) sounds like 'oon' in 'moon'. 전 (jeon) is like 'jun' in 'jungle' but with a softer 'j'. The stress is fairly even across the syllables.
More Example Sentences
A news report or public service announcement.
음주운전은 절대 용납될 수 없어요.
Drunk driving can never be tolerated.
Sharing a cautionary tale with someone.
친구가 음주운전으로 면허가 취소되었어요.
My friend had their license revoked for drunk driving.
Discussing current events or traffic enforcement.
경찰이 음주운전 단속을 강화하고 있어요.
The police are strengthening crackdowns on drunk driving.
Cultural Context
음주운전 is considered a very serious criminal offense in Korea, with severe penalties including hefty fines, license suspension, and even imprisonment. Public awareness campaigns are frequent, and the social stigma is strong. The prevalence of 대리운전 (designated driver services) highlights the strict stance against drunk driving, as it provides a safe alternative for those who drink. Recent high-profile cases have led to even stricter laws, often referred to as 'Yoon Chang-ho's Law'.
Editorial note
We review entries like 음주운전 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
음주운전은 살인입니다.
Drunk driving is murder. (Common slogan)
음주운전 하지 마세요.
Don't drive drunk.
음주운전 처벌
Drunk driving punishment
Related Expressions
음주
eumju
drinking (alcohol)
운전
unjeon
driving
대리운전
daeri unjeon
designated driver service
음주 단속
eumju dansok
drunk driving crackdown
More Transportation Words
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