"How Dare You Talk Back to a Public Official" Insults After Asking to Move the Car

On the 25th, JTBC reported that a public official in Wonju City was asked by a building owner to move their car, and then approached while intoxicated, hurling insults. Photo by JTBC Broadcast Screen Capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A public official in Wonju City, after being asked by a building owner to move his car, approached the owner while intoxicated and hurled insults.

According to a JTBC report on the 25th, Mr. A, a public official working at a business office affiliated with Wonju City Hall, received a call asking him to move his car, which was parked in someone else's building parking lot.

In response, Mr. A approached the building owner who requested the car to be moved and suddenly began to curse.

Mr. A shouted, "I am a public official, XXXX. Do your job properly, XXXX. You are not someone who can treat me like that."

In front of the building owner, Mr. A continued lecturing and cursing, even mentioning the mayor by saying, "Do you know who my representative is? It's the mayor, the mayor. XXX."

For two days, Mr. A sent text messages to the building owner, threatening with phrases like "Where do you think you are talking back to a public official?" and "Let's settle this once and for all."

The victim building owner said, "There are many who are not like that, but I wonder how a public official could say such things," adding, "I was so anxious that I told my wife not to go out. Because I don't know when or how such a situation might happen again due to intoxication. There could also be further harm."

Mr. A explained that he does not clearly remember the situation at the time but was angry because he was told to move the car immediately while intoxicated.

He also does not recall sending the texts but said he apologized and it has been confirmed that he actually did so.

The building owner reported Mr. A to the police and stated an intention to file a complaint with Wonju City.

Wonju City announced that it will conduct an internal investigation once the complaint is received.