30s Man Arrested After Lying on Floor Trying to Board KTX Without Wearing Mask

Two men in their 30s who tried to board the KTX without wearing masks were restrained by staff and caused a disturbance for over 40 minutes before being booked. Photo by YTN

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seul-gi] Two men in their 30s who tried to board the KTX without wearing masks were booked after causing a disturbance for over 40 minutes when stopped by staff.

According to YTN on the 20th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Railway Special Judicial Police booked the two men in their 30s for violating the Minor Offenses Act after they caused a disturbance while intoxicated in the Seoul Station waiting area around 9:30 PM on the 19th.

When they were stopped by staff for not wearing masks, they shouted loudly and damaged facilities in the station. They are also accused of verbally abusing the police who arrived on the scene. It is reported that they were heavily intoxicated at the time.

Since the mask mandate was implemented, similar incidents have continued to occur. According to data received by Jin Seong-jun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 15th, there have been 47 cases referred to the Railway Special Judicial Police for violating quarantine rules since the public transportation mask mandate began on May 26. Among these, 27 cases involved serious crimes such as assault and insult.

Earlier in August, a man in his 50s was arrested by police on charges of assaulting another passenger who requested him to wear a mask on a train passing near Dangsan Station on Seoul Subway Line 2.