Former President Moon Jae-in and his daughter, Da-hye / Screenshot from X

A police investigation into the daughter of former President Moon Jae-in on suspicion of drunk driving has put the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in an awkward position, amid mounting criticism from outside and within the party.

According to police, Monday, Moon Da-hye's car collided with a taxi while she was changing lanes central Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood at 2:51 a.m. on Saturday, causing minor injuries to the taxi driver. Her blood alcohol concentration was measured at 0.149 percent, exceeding the 0.08 percent threshold which is subject to the revocation of a driver's license.

"Moon Da-hye conducted a breathalyzer test and accompanied a police officer on the day of the accident. We are arranging the summoning schedule for Moon. She will face the same protocols as other suspects," a senior police official said, refusing to comment whether the police will set up a photo line where suspects stand before the press and answer questions. However, dozens of reporters gathered at Yongsan Police Station, anticipating her arrival.

The police said they will also investigate whether she violated other traffic laws, such as traffic signal violations or illegal parking.

She was driving a Hyundai Casper vehicle, which she received from her father in April. In August, a police station on Jeju Island decided to impound the vehicle due to non-payment of traffic fines, but no seizure occurred.

The accident comes at a tricky time because she has been suspected as one of the key figures in bribery allegations involving the former president. Prosecutors are now looking into accusations that her then-husband was appointed as an executive of Thai Eastar Jet in exchange for favors granted to former DPK lawmaker Lee Sang-jik, the founder of Eastar Jet, a Korean airline suspected to be the parent company of the Thai firm.

On Aug. 30, prosecutors visited the residence of Moon Da-hye to assess the extent of financial support she received from her parents during his presidency.

Reporters gather in front of Yongsan Police Station, Monday, awaiting the arrival of former President Moon Jae-in's daughter, Da-hye, who is set to undergo questioning for her alleged drunk driving on Saturday. Yonhap

Neither the former president nor the DPK issued a statement regarding the drunk driving case. The former president had likened drunk driving to "an act of murder" during his time in office.

In October 2018, Moon told his senior advisers that "DUI-related accidents are not mistakes, but incidents that could lead to deaths or completely destroy others' lives." At the time, he called for tougher penalties for DUI offenses.

Rep. Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the DPK, remained cautious on the case, simply saying, "This is something that should not have happened," without elaborating. Other lawmakers of the DPK haven't responded to the case in fear that it will face a backlash. They worry that this incident may dampen their efforts to direct public attention toward controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee.

They also worry the case may stoke criticism and raise questions about the leadership of Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the DPK, who was reportedly fined 1.5 million won ($1,113) in 2004 for a DUI.

Meanwhile, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has been pressuring the former president to apologize for his daughter's misconduct.

"Frantic supporters of former President Moon are saying that Moon Da-hye's drunk driving is because the prosecution harassed her. That can never be an excuse," Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, a member of the PPP's Supreme Council, said Monday.

"I think it would be best for former President Moon to apologize quickly," Rep. Park Jeong-hun of the PPP said in an interview with CBS radio.