South Korean authorities said Sunday they will cut the high number of alcohol-related driving accidents by implementing harsh measures, such as confiscating vehicles of habitual drunk drivers or those who cause fatal accident while under the influence of alcohol. 

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office (SPO) and the National Police Agency (NPA) said the measures, which will begin Monday, include confiscating vehicles of habitual offenders and strengthening punishment on fellow passengers.

Prosecutors said they decided to demand the court seize vehicles if the driver with a record of drunk driving causes a fatal accident or is caught driving drunk five times in five years.

The vehicles can be seized when the police are engaged in the probe once all legal requirements are met.

According to police, 498 drunk drivers caused fatal accidents last year. The number of people who broke the law by driving while intoxicated five times within the last five years stood at 139.

Still, cautious implementation is needed as the seizure could lead to an infringement on private property.

According to the NPA, the number of drunk drivers shrank from 269,836 in 2013 to 251,788 in 2014 and 243,100 last year. Still, habitual drunk drivers -- caught three times or more -- rose from 39,490 in 2013 to 44,717 in 2014 and 44,986 in 2015, respectively.

"We will demand three, five or seven-year jail terms for those who cause fatal accidents based on the seriousness of their crimes," said Park Kyun-taek, a senior prosecutor at the SPO. "Even in injury cases, we will make the offenders face formal trials, not summary proceedings." (Yonhap)