A Benz Parked Boldly at the Fire Station Entrance... 'Firefighter Acquaintance Privilege' Controversy

When a Citizen Tried to Report Illegal Parking
Firefighter Came Out to Stop Them Instead
"Helped Carry Luggage When Owner Showed Up"

A citizen witnessed a luxury foreign car illegally parked at the entrance of a fire station in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, and when they tried to report it, a firefighter intervened to stop them, sparking controversy.

On the 16th, Mr. A shared the situation on the online community Bobae Dream. He said, "I saw a vehicle illegally parked in front of the fire station near Dangsan Station, but the firefighters did not answer the phone despite several attempts to contact them," and added, "When I asked if it was possible to tow the vehicle immediately under special laws or legislation, they showed reluctance and said I should report it through the Safe Report app."

Vehicle illegally parked in front of the fire station [Photo source=Online community archive]

He continued, "When I tried to install the app to report it, firefighter Mr. B, who appeared to be a senior officer, stood in front of the vehicle's license plate to prevent me from taking photos," and "When I asked him to move so I could report it, he refused," he said.

Mr. A moved to the rear to quickly report and tried to take a photo of the vehicle's license plate. However, the fire station informed him that "they had contacted the vehicle owner."

Mr. A said, "The owner returned carrying a large shopping bag and said without any apology, 'I went to a nearby bank. I couldn't answer because the battery was dead,'" and "What was even more absurd was that Mr. B, who had prevented me from taking photos, helped carry the owner's luggage and loaded it into the back seat of the car, even seeing them off," he claimed.

A firefighter placing the owner's belongings into the back seat of a vehicle illegally parked in front of a fire station in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Online Community]

The photos he posted actually show a foreign vehicle parked in front of a fire center with its shutter down. Four firefighters are standing nearby. Other photos show a woman, presumed to be the vehicle owner, placing luggage and opening the rear door, and one firefighter carrying the luggage.

There is also a photo of the firefighter loading the luggage into the back seat.

He also expressed suspicion about the firefighter who did not cooperate with the report.

He said, "The young firefighters unanimously said the vehicle should be reported, but I cannot understand why the senior firefighter Mr. B was uncooperative with a citizen trying to report," expressing his bewilderment.

According to the revised Fire Services Act since 2018, the Fire Agency is not required to compensate for damages to vehicles that obstruct fire trucks' passage and firefighting activities due to illegal parking. Firefighters have no liability if they remove or move vehicles that hinder emergency dispatch, even if the vehicles are damaged.

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