Repeated Demands for Mask Wearing... Verbal Abuse and Punching of Taxi Driver

On the 20th, SBS '8 o'clock News' reported that a man in his 60s was arrested by the police on charges of violently assaulting a taxi driver who asked him to wear a mask. Photo by SBS News.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A man in his 60s was arrested by the police on charges of violently assaulting a taxi driver who asked him to wear a mask.

On the 20th, SBS reported on the '8 o'clock News' that "It has been three months since the regulation requiring masks on public transportation was implemented, but such incidents are still recurring."

According to SBS, a man in his 60s, appearing intoxicated in the early morning hours, boarded a taxi without wearing a mask, and the taxi driver asked him to put one on.

In response to the driver's request, the man repeatedly put on and took off his mask, while the driver continued to insist on mask-wearing.

Eventually, the man began kicking the taxi driver.

When the driver stopped the car and called the police, the man launched a relentless assault, cursing, hitting the driver's face, and twisting his arm.

The reason for the assault was the driver's persistent demand that the man wear a mask.

Regarding the incident, the taxi driver said, "He put on the mask but took it off again within a minute or two, over and over. So I told him, 'Please wear the mask,' about twice..."

The police plan to investigate the man who assaulted the taxi driver and decide on the level of punishment.

Meanwhile, the government has mandated mask-wearing on public transportation since May 26. However, reports of violations continue to come in, with over 400 complaints filed in Busan and Gyeongnam alone.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.