SEOUL, June 16, 2009 (AFP) - A South Korean motorist who hit and slightly injured an 11-year-old boy has admitted later murdering the child in an attempt to cover up driving offences, reports said Tuesday.

The 48-year-old hit the child while under the influence of alcohol and while he was disqualified from driving.

He took the boy to a small hospital but was referred to a larger facility.

Instead of visiting the larger hospital, the man drove to an isolated spot in Damyang country 220 kilometres (132 miles) south of Seoul and shot the boy four times with a powerful air rifle, several newspapers reported.

The interior decorator, arrested after a tip-off, reportedly told police he killed the boy to avoid a further driving ban. He was due to get his licence back in September.

"I killed him under an obsession that I should reinstate my licence to make a living," he was quoted as saying.