"Can Beer with Mask Below Chin on Subway"... Assault and Verbal Abuse Toward Passenger Who Warned

"Alcohol Ban in Subway" Warning...
Man Responds, "If Such a Law Exists, Show Me"

Photo by Online Community Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A story has sparked controversy after a passenger who requested a group drinking canned beer without masks in a subway car was verbally abused and assaulted.

On the 15th, an online community post titled "I was hit while trying to stop people drinking on the subway" was uploaded. The author, Mr. A, shared a photo of two men and one woman sitting on subway seats drinking canned beer.

Mr. A stated, "The group, consisting of one Korean man and foreigners, were loudly chatting in the subway car with their masks lowered to their chins ('teokseu')," adding, "When I said I was taking a photo, they calmly looked at the lens and sneered."

He continued, "They were drinking canned beer and conversing in English," and "I warned them at the time, but the Korean man in the group swore at me."

Mr. A gave a warning in Korean, but since communication failed, he repeated in English, "You are not allowed to drink alcohol inside the subway." The foreign man apologized and put down his beer can, but the Korean man reportedly responded, "If there is such a law, show me," while making an obscene gesture with his middle finger.

When the warning was ignored, Mr. A filed a complaint about "people drinking beer inside the subway car," and at the next stop, station staff arrived, and both the group and Mr. A got off together. However, Mr. A said, "During this process, the Korean man kicked me in the solar plexus and threw the beer can on the floor, causing a disturbance," and when he swung his arm and grazed the man's body, the man kicked him again.

Ultimately, Mr. A had no choice but to call 112 (emergency number). He said, "The Korean man who kept making all sorts of sexual harassment remarks in English became a 'gentle lamb' in front of the police," adding, "Even a slight touch is assault, and since both hit each other, it’s mutual. Honestly, I partly admit I touched first, but if I hadn’t, I would have definitely been slapped."

He added, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, I only saw mask disputes on public transportation in the news, but I never imagined I would get hit for telling someone drinking on the subway to wear a mask."

According to the police, this incident occurred on the 12th near Gangnam-gu Office Station in Seoul. The Gangnam Police Station told Chosun.com, "We reviewed CCTV footage and heard witness statements," and "We plan to sequentially summon and investigate the suspects."

Meanwhile, drinking and smoking on the subway are illegal acts under Article 47 (Prohibited Acts on Passenger Trains) of the Railroad Safety Act and Article 3 of the Minor Offenses Act.

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