"Cried on the Spot in Sorrow"... Outrage Over Taxi Driver's Story of Being Indiscriminately Assaulted by the Navy

Man in his 20s strips clothes, verbally abuses and swears
Taxi driver suffers 6-week recovery with rib fractures
Colleagues and superiors plead for leniency, saying "Are they trying to kill a young soldier?"

An active-duty Navy non-commissioned officer was exposed for verbally abusing and hurling insults at an elderly taxi driver, as well as carrying out indiscriminate physical assault, sparking public outrage. Notably, the taxi driver, who is of an age comparable to the Navy sergeant's father, suffered serious injuries with five fractured ribs and a six-week recovery period due to the assault.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on the 19th of last month in Nam-gu, Busan, and was intensively highlighted on June 13th on JTBC's 'Han Moon-cheol's Black Box Review' (Hanbulli). The broadcast revealed the black box footage capturing the entire process of the assault by the perpetrator, Navy Sergeant A (25).

A current Navy non-commissioned officer was exposed verbally abusing and cursing an elderly taxi driver, even resorting to indiscriminate assault, sparking public outrage.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In the video, A, who was intoxicated, boarded the taxi and began to provoke the taxi driver B (65), who is of an age comparable to his father, by speaking informally. He then hurled insults and verbal abuse such as "Do you want to get hit?" while making gestures as if to slap B and threatened B, who was driving, by leaning over the driver's seat. Despite A's threats, B continued driving for about seven minutes and reported the incident to the police with trembling hands.

After arriving in front of the Navy accommodation, B escaped outside the car while waiting for the police to arrive. However, A followed him out and continued to shout insults. Suddenly, A took off his upper garment, saying he would "show his tattoos." Then, A kicked B in the waist, and B screamed as he hit his abdomen hard against the side mirror from the impact. A then climbed on top of the fallen B and pressed down on him violently.

The assault continued despite the intervention of security guards who rushed over after hearing B's screams, and even after the police arrived following the report, A continued to curse and cause a disturbance for some time. Due to A's assault, B sustained serious injuries with five fractured ribs and a six-week recovery period. B expressed on the broadcast, "I was so heartbroken that I cried. I cried for a while right there. Honestly, I wanted to die."

A’s Colleagues and Superiors Request Leniency, Saying "Are You Trying to Kill a Young Soldier?"

In the video, Mr. A, who was heavily intoxicated, got into a taxi and started speaking informally to Mr. B (65), the taxi driver who was about his father's age. He then hurled insults and abusive language such as "Do you want to get beaten?" while pretending to strike Mr. B or threatening him by leaning over the driver's seat while Mr. B was driving.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

After the police arrived and took A to the local police station, A’s Navy colleagues and superiors gathered and requested leniency. Meanwhile, A was reportedly passed out asleep due to intoxication. What shocked B even more was the attitude of the Navy personnel who came in a group. One of A’s superiors told B, "Are you trying to kill a young soldier?" and pleaded, "Please do not ruin his youth." B’s daughter questioned, "Is it acceptable that the young perpetrator’s life is pitiful while an innocent man in his 60s was beaten?"

A reportedly stated that he did not remember the incident due to intoxication at the time of the crime. It is known that he is currently living his daily life without any disciplinary actions. B’s family collected 1,408 signatures on a petition for A’s detention and submitted it, but they were eventually informed that the arrest warrant was dismissed. B’s family is fearful of possible retaliation.

After the video and story were made public, citizens expressed outrage. In particular, some netizens are urging severe punishment for A online. On the Navy’s official website free bulletin board and elsewhere, protests are flooding in with comments such as "We want the Navy member who assaulted the taxi driver to be punished," "Severely punish the Navy sergeant," and "I came because a soldier hit a person."

As the video and story were made public, citizens were outraged. In particular, some netizens are reportedly calling for severe punishment for Mr. A through online platforms. [Photo by Republic of Korea Navy Free Board]

Attorney Han Moon-cheol explained, "Threatening a person while they are driving is subject to heavy punishment under the Special Act," adding, "Since the perpetrator only threatened and intimidated inside the taxi and assaulted after getting out of the car, the punishment seems lighter."

However, Attorney Han analyzed, "Because the victim received a six-week medical diagnosis, if the perpetrator is sentenced to prison, it is expected to be about one to one and a half years in prison," and "Even if probation is granted, this would be grounds for dismissal from public service (military service)."

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