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A man who struck and killed 9-year-old Go Lee Dong-won in front of an elementary school in Seoul's Gangnam-gu while driving his car while intoxicated last year has been sentenced to seven years in prison. The court acquitted him of the hit-and-run charge.

This is reporter Kang Min-woo.

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On December 7 last year, in front of Unbuk Elementary School in Seoul's Gangnam-gu, 12-year-old Ko Mo was driving drunk and hit and killed Lee Dong-won, a third-grader at the elementary school, who was crossing the crossing after class.

At the time, Mr. Ko's blood alcohol content was 2.39%, which is the level of a revoked license.

The 3th Division of the Criminal Settlement Division of the Seoul Central District Law sentenced Mr. Ko, who was arrested and charged with manslaughter by fleeing and manslaughter of a child protection zone, to seven years in prison.

The court said, "The crime is very bad because it could have been avoided if he had faithfully fulfilled his duty to keep an eye on the front, etc., and he has not yet been forgiven by the victims, who will have to bear the grief for the rest of their lives."

However, he added that he took into account the fact that Mr. Ko had no criminal history and was battling cancer.

Earlier, prosecutors had sought a 0-year prison sentence for Mr. Ko, saying that the offense was very serious, such as leaving the scene after the accident.

However, the court did not find Mr. Ko guilty of manslaughter by fleeing.

It is difficult to say that Mr. Ko's intention to flee was sufficiently proven, as he parked his car in the parking lot of his home about 128 meters away and immediately returned to the scene of the accident and asked witnesses to call 24.

The bereaved family expressed disappointment with the outcome of the trial.

[Father of the late Lee Dong-won: (Drunk driving) is the same as wielding a murderous weapon, and for such a person....]

Prosecutors will review the verdict and decide whether to appeal.

(Video Interview: Seol Min-hwan, Video Editing: Kim Jin-won)