'Hydrochloric Acid Terror' Fear Spreads to Public Institutions as a Tool for 'Hate Crimes'

Acid Attack Inside Public Institution
Colorless Liquid Hard to Distinguish from Water by Naked Eye
Widely Used Across Various Industries but Harmful to Human Body
Used as a 'Hate Crime' Tool in Some Foreign Countries

Hydrochloric acid in a bottle. Since it is a colorless liquid, it looks very similar to water to the naked eye. / Photo by Wikipedia capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] A shocking incident occurred in Pohang City Hall, Gyeongbuk, where a public official was severely injured in a hydrochloric acid attack. Voices are rising, calling for heightened awareness as such attacks using hydrochloric acid have occurred openly even within public institutions. Hydrochloric acid, a colorless solution, can cause terrible wounds if it comes into contact with the skin, but it is very dangerous because at first glance it is indistinguishable from water. It is also known to be frequently used as a means of terrorism overseas.

◆Walking up to the 7th floor of City Hall and attacking with hydrochloric acid

According to the Pohang Nambu Police Station on the 3rd, a man in his 60s, Mr. A, sprayed hydrochloric acid on public official Mr. B, who works at Pohang City Hall, on the 29th of last month, causing injuries to his eyes, face, and other body parts.

At the time, Mr. A filled a 500ml bottled water container with hydrochloric acid and entered the public transportation department office on the 7th floor of Pohang City Hall. There, Mr. A poured the liquid from the bottle onto the face of the department head, Mr. B.

Mr. B, who was doused with hydrochloric acid, collapsed while complaining of pain. Immediately after the incident, his colleagues moved him to the restroom and washed him with water. Afterwards, Mr. B was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Fortunately, it is reported that Mr. B’s life is not in danger, but it is understood that about six months of long-term treatment will be required to recover the injured area around his eyes.

A civil complainant dissatisfied with the administration entered the Pohang City Hall in Gyeongbuk and sprayed hydrochloric acid on a public official's face. / Photo by Yonhap News

During the police investigation, Mr. A was found to have committed the act out of dissatisfaction with administration. Regarding the source of the hydrochloric acid, he stated that he "purchased it somewhere in the city."

◆Colorless liquid hydrochloric acid... difficult to distinguish from water when stored in a common container

Hydrochloric acid, also called hydrogen chloride acid or muriatic acid, is a representative strong acid. Although it is highly acidic, its toxicity decreases when diluted with water, so it is used in various products. For example, it is used in leather processing, compound production, and even in small amounts in food additive manufacturing.

Although hydrochloric acid is widely used in various industries, it is extremely lethal to humans and animals. If it enters the respiratory tract, eyes, or skin, it can damage human tissues or cause burns. Its smell is unpleasant, but the fact that it is colorless like water is also problematic. When carried in a bottled water container, it is almost indistinguishable from water.

Because of these characteristics, hydrochloric acid often appears as a means of 'hate crimes' overseas. In some countries such as India and Nepal, hydrochloric acid has been used as a tool for 'date violence,' sparking controversy.

Muskan Katun, a teenage girl from Nepal, was attacked with acid for rejecting a boy of her age who asked her out. In Nepal and some other countries, crimes involving acid attacks on women have emerged as a social issue. / Photo by Twitter Capture

Advanced countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom are also struggling with hydrochloric acid attacks. In April, a man in New York, USA, sprayed hydrochloric acid on a Pakistani university student in his 20s. The student suffered burns on several body parts including the tongue, throat, wrists, and face. In London, the capital of the UK, more than 100 hydrochloric acid attack cases have been reported annually since 2013, becoming a major social issue.

Occasionally, hydrochloric acid attacks also occur domestically. In December last year, a man in his 70s, after being rejected by a woman in her 30s for dating, entered the restaurant where she worked carrying two containers of hydrochloric acid and threatened, "I will pour one container on your face and drink the other." When restaurant employees approached to stop him, he sprayed hydrochloric acid, causing burns to the faces, arms, and legs of the victims.

◆Regulating transactions through the Chemical Substances Control Act

Because hydrochloric acid attacks occur suddenly, victims find it difficult to respond in advance, and since the face is mainly affected, it can lead to lifelong trauma. This is why there are calls for stricter verification procedures for buying and selling hydrochloric acid.

The government designates hydrochloric acid as a 'hazardous chemical substance' and regulates its transactions. In particular, strong industrial hydrochloric acid with a concentration exceeding 30% is strictly restricted from being purchased online by individuals.

Recently, to prevent substances like hydrochloric acid from being misused in crimes, thorough management is conducted from the sales and distribution stages.

According to the revised Chemical Substances Control Act, when trading hazardous chemical substances that can be misused, including hydrochloric acid, anesthetics, and chloroform, buyers must undergo real-name and age verification procedures through one of the following: business registration certificate, certified digital signature, or an identity verification agency designated by the Korea Communications Commission.

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