Blocking Vehicles and Resorting to Violence... 'Time Bomb on the Road' Retaliatory Driving

Arrest of Taxi Driver for Retaliatory Driving
Repeated Retaliatory Driving and Assault
Probation for Former Ourhome CEO Koo Bon-sung

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Drivers who engaged in retaliatory driving due to disputes while driving, as well as habitual retaliatory drivers, have been apprehended by the police. Retaliatory driving can potentially lead to serious accidents, yet it remains uneradicated.

On the 17th, according to the police, the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul arrested a taxi driver in his 40s, Mr. A, on charges of intimidation and property damage.

Mr. A is accused of blocking a woman in her 50s’ passenger car and punching the front windshield on a road near Seongsu Station in Seongdong-gu on the afternoon of the 1st.

A man in his 30s, Mr. B, who habitually engaged in retaliatory driving and also assaulted the victim drivers, was also arrested by the police.

From September last year to February this year, Mr. B committed threatening and retaliatory driving five times. It was found that when a car cut in front of his vehicle, he would overtake and suddenly stop or closely tailgate the other vehicle, pushing it side to side to intimidate the driver.

Additionally, when a female driver was driving slowly within an apartment complex, he blocked her car, got out, punched the victim’s car door, and assaulted both the driver and a passenger. It was also reported that he spat on another passenger in the victim vehicle.

Last month, former Ourhome CEO Koo Bon-sung, who was indicted for damaging another vehicle through retaliatory driving, received a suspended prison sentence in the first trial.

Judge Joo Jin-am of the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 15 sentenced former Vice Chairman Koo to six months in prison with a two-year suspension on the 3rd of last month on charges including special property damage and special injury.

Mr. Koo, the eldest son of Koo Ja-hak, the third son of LG Group founder Koo In-hoe, was tried for retaliatory driving by overtaking and suddenly stopping after a Mercedes cut in front of his BMW near Hakdong Intersection in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in September last year. After the accident, Mr. Koo left the scene, and when the victim driver chased him and got out of the car to stop him, Mr. Koo moved his car forward, injuring the victim’s waist and other areas, leading to additional charges.

Judge Joo stated, "Although the defendant’s guilt is not light, he confessed to the crime, and the extent of the damage does not appear severe. Considering that he reached an amicable settlement with the victim who does not wish for punishment, this was taken into account."

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