[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] A taxi driver who blocked an ambulance carrying an emergency patient, delaying the patient's transfer, has sparked public outrage. It has been reported that this taxi driver was a novice who had been with the company for only three weeks.
On the 6th, TV Chosun reported that the taxi driver involved in the controversy, Choi Mo (30), was a rookie taxi driver who joined A Transportation, based in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, on May 15.
According to the report, Choi caused an accident on June 8, just 24 days after joining, and resigned on the 22nd of last month, two weeks after the accident. This means he left A Transportation 37 days after starting work. The reason for his resignation was reported as "health reasons."
A representative from A Transportation told the media, "Although Choi was young, he was hired because he had several years of accident-free bus driving experience," adding, "Two weeks after the vehicle accident, Choi suddenly said he would resign citing health reasons." According to A Transportation, Choi is currently out of contact.
Meanwhile, the incident began on the 8th of last month on a road near Godeok Station on Seoul Subway Line 5 in Gangdong-gu, when a private ambulance attempting to change lanes collided with a taxi. Immediately after the accident, the taxi driver reportedly argued with the ambulance driver for about 10 minutes, insisting on handling the minor collision first.
According to a black box video released by the bereaved family, the taxi driver said things like, "Is this really an emergency patient?", "If the patient dies, I will be responsible," and "Call 119, not a private ambulance," blocking the patient's hospital transfer. Eventually, another ambulance arrived and transferred the patient to a nearby university hospital, but the patient ultimately passed away about five hours later.
Meanwhile, a petition titled "Please punish the taxi driver who blocked the ambulance carrying an emergency patient," posted by the bereaved family on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 3rd, had gathered over 602,000 signatures as of 10:15 a.m. on the 7th.
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