Customer in 50s Throws Ice Cream at Employee Asking to Wear Mask

On the 9th, at a mart in Seo-gu, Gwangju, a customer threw an ice cream at an employee who asked them to wear a mask. Photo by Gwangju KBS Broadcast Screen Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] A woman in her 50s who threw ice cream at an employee requesting mask-wearing at a large mart in Gwangju has been booked by the police.

On the 11th, the Gwangju Seobu Police Station announced that they plan to investigate Ms. A, a woman in her 50s who threw ice cream at an employee who asked her to wear a mask properly, on charges of assault and violation of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

According to the police, Ms. A entered the mart around 9 a.m. on the 9th with her upper garment pulled up to cover her nose and mouth. Although employees tried to stop her by saying, "We will bring you a mask," she ignored them, put items in her cart, and came to the checkout counter to pay.

When the cashier said, "(Because you are not wearing a mask) I cannot process your payment," and requested once more to wear a mask, Ms. A suddenly cursed at the employee, threw ice cream at her, and then left the store. The employee who was hit by the ice cream is reported to be receiving treatment at a hospital due to shock.

According to COVID-19 prevention guidelines, individuals not wearing masks in multi-use facilities are subject to fines of up to 100,000 KRW, and businesses face fines of up to 3 million KRW.

The police have secured closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage inside and outside the mart to ascertain the detailed circumstances of the incident.