Responding to "Please wear a mask" request with fists... Series of assault incidents, ultimately arrested

Bus Driver in 50s Arrested for Assault Over Mask Wearing Demand
Man in 50s Also Arrested for Assaulting Passenger on Subway
Police Take Strict Action on Public Transport Mask Non-Compliance Cases

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Incidents of bus drivers and citizens being assaulted after requesting mask-wearing on public transportation, where masks are mandatory, are occurring repeatedly. The police have established a policy to respond strictly to related crimes, and those who committed the offenses were ultimately arrested.

According to the legal community on the 30th, Seoul Eastern District Court Chief Judge Lee Geun-soo, who is in charge of warrants, issued an arrest warrant on the 28th for a man in his 50s, Mr. A, who assaulted a bus driver requesting proper mask-wearing and also assaulted a passenger who tried to intervene, citing "risk of flight."

Mr. A is charged with assaulting a driver and obstruction of business under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. On the evening of the 25th, around 10:20 PM, on a city bus near Jamsil Bridge in Songpa-gu, Seoul, while on a phone call, he grabbed the bus driver's mask and punched his face after the driver requested him to wear the mask properly. He also assaulted a passenger who tried to intervene and was about to report to the police by attempting to seize the passenger's phone, scratching the passenger's face, and shouting inside the bus. The Songpa Police Station arrested Mr. B on the spot and investigated the incident through CCTV analysis, then applied for an arrest warrant on the 27th.

On the 27th, a man in his 50s without a mask caused a disturbance by using violence against passengers who requested him to wear a mask on Seoul Subway Line 2.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

A man in his 50s who assaulted passengers requesting mask-wearing on the subway was also arrested. Seoul Southern District Court Chief Judge Park Won-kyu, in charge of warrants, issued an arrest warrant for Mr. B, who assaulted two passengers requesting mask-wearing on the train, citing "no fixed residence and risk of flight."

Mr. B committed this crime during the "recidivism period," within three years of completing or being exempted from imprisonment or higher punishment. Judge Park added, "Considering the fact that he is in the recidivism period for similar offenses and the risk of reoffending."

Mr. B reportedly strangled the victim passenger's neck, assaulted the face with slippers he was wearing, and also assaulted another passenger who tried to intervene. The police who arrived arrested him on the spot. He reportedly stated during the police investigation that he hit the passengers out of anger over the mask-wearing request.

Earlier in June, a man in his 50s, Mr. C, was arrested for assaulting and verbally abusing a bus driver who requested mask-wearing. This was the first case of an arrest warrant issued due to disputes related to mandatory mask-wearing on public transportation.

Mr. C boarded a village bus in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul without a mask, and when the bus driver requested him to wear one, he threw punches and also assaulted another passenger who tried to intervene.

The police have announced a strong stance to respond firmly to those causing problems in public transportation use and committing violence due to not wearing masks on public transportation. According to the National Police Agency, the police have currently sent 198 cases to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment on charges of assault related to mask-wearing disputes on public transportation and are investigating 145 cases.

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