[Exclusive] Police Dispatched to APEC Vomit After Drinking in Alcohol-Prohibited Accommodation the Night Before Duty

It has been confirmed that police officers dispatched to support work at the APEC Summit drank alcohol in their accommodation the night before their duties, despite the prohibition on eating or drinking alcohol at the facility.

According to reports, five officers from the Changwon Seobu Police Station headed to Gyeongju, where the APEC Summit was being held, on October 27.

Although they were assigned on-site accommodation, as no meals were provided there, they had dinner at a nearby restaurant and then bought soju to bring back to the lodging.

They shared four bottles of soju over more than an hour in their accommodation that evening, and one officer even vomited in the bathroom due to intoxication.

The accommodation in question strictly prohibited bringing in outside food or ordering food deliveries.

The officers, who ranged in age from their 30s to 50s and held ranks from inspector to patrol officer, were mobilized as a team for this support work.

Upon confirming the incident, the police ordered the officers to return to their home station.

A representative from the Seobu Police Station explained, "We were originally supposed to stay at accommodation in Pohang, but were suddenly notified to move to lodging in Gyeongju. We left around noon and arrived in the evening. Unlike officers from other stations who arrived earlier, we were not informed by the police agency or the on-site officers that eating and drinking alcohol were prohibited at this accommodation."

The representative added, "Before departure, we issued instructions through the internal affairs inspector to refrain from excessive drinking and had everyone travel together by tour bus to prevent any incidents. If we had been informed in advance like the officers from other stations, we would not have consumed alcohol."

They continued, "Although not everyone drank and some staff did not drink at all, it was still wrong for those who did. The officers involved have been ordered to return, and another team will be deployed in their place."

Additionally, "Once they have returned, the internal affairs office will investigate the matter and disciplinary action, caution, or warning will be considered," the representative said.

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