Came to Rescue but Got Punched? "Won't Overlook It" ... Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters Steps Up to Protect Paramedics

17 Cases of Firefighting Interference in the Past 3 Years, Mostly Alcohol-Related Assaults

Special Judicial Police to Enforce Strict No-Tolerance Policy Even When Intoxicated

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters will take strict action against crimes involving the assault of 119 paramedics dispatched to emergency scenes.

The Fire Headquarters' Special Judicial Police Officers are investigating Mr. A and Mr. B, who assaulted paramedics on the 10th and 24th respectively.

According to the Fire Headquarters, Mr. A, who was reported to have been drinking and collapsed on a road in Andong on the 10th, assaulted the paramedics and damaged equipment inside the ambulance when they tried to transport him to the hospital.

Mr. B, a group tourist, is under investigation for assaulting three paramedics while intoxicated at a hotel in Pohang on the 24th.

In the past three years, there have been a total of 17 cases of obstruction of fire-fighting activities in the province. Of the 9 cases this year, 7 have been referred to prosecution, and the remaining 2 are under investigation by the Fire Special Judicial Police.

All obstruction cases in the past three years involved assaults by intoxicated individuals.

The Fire Headquarters operates a ‘Task Force for Handling Offenders Obstructing Fire Activities’ to respond promptly to assaults on paramedics.

Anyone who assaults or threatens on-site firefighters or damages fire equipment to obstruct fire-fighting activities may face imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to 50 million won.

Kim Jong-geun, Chief of the Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters, stated, “With recent legal amendments, even if the assailant is intoxicated or mentally impaired, there will be no reduction in punishment for assaulting on-site responders. We will apply a zero-tolerance policy and respond strictly to assaults on firefighters.”

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