Arrest Warrant Issued for 60-Year-Old Suspected of Terrorizing Pohang City Hall Official with 'Unknown Substance' Liquid

Private Taxi Sales Broker Mr. A Causes Conflict Over Pohang City Taxi Reduction Policy

On the 29th, at the Public Transportation Department of Pohang City Hall in Gyeongbuk, a man in his 60s, dissatisfied with the personal taxi reduction project, sprayed an unidentified liquid at an employee.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] The police have requested an arrest warrant for a man in his 60s who sprayed an unidentified liquid on a public official, causing burns to the eyes and other areas, after expressing dissatisfaction with the handling of a civil complaint.

On the 31st, the Pohang Southern Police Station in Gyeongbuk announced that they had applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A, in his 60s, on charges including obstruction of official duties causing injury.

Mr. A is accused of spraying a liquid from a water bottle onto the face of public official Mr. B at the Public Transportation Division on the 7th floor of Pohang City Hall around 9:10 a.m. on the 29th, during an argument regarding the personal taxi reduction policy.

Mr. B was directly hit by the liquid on his face and other areas, complained of pain, and was transported to the hospital by the 119 rescue team. Although his life is not in danger, he is receiving treatment for burns to his eyes and other areas.

Mr. A was arrested by police who responded to the report. As a personal taxi sales broker, Mr. A had frequently filed complaints about the Pohang City taxi reduction policy, which had made his livelihood difficult. On this day as well, he committed the crime after a dispute with Mr. B fueled by dissatisfaction.

Since the spread of COVID-19, Pohang City Hall has allowed civil petitioners to meet public officials on the 2nd floor of the building instead of the relevant department to prevent infection. The city estimates that Mr. A used the emergency stairs used by public officials to reach the 7th floor.

The composition of the liquid sprayed by Mr. A has not been identified.

A police official stated, "Mr. A has not disclosed what substances were in the liquid," adding, "We have sent the sample to the National Forensic Service for analysis, but the results have not yet been released." The police are focusing on the possibility that Mr. A mixed herbicide into the water bottle and are investigating the exact circumstances of the incident.

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