Assault Dispute After Drinking Beer with Mask Down on Subway... Police Investigation Underway

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The police have launched an investigation following an assault dispute between a man who took off his mask and drank beer on the subway and a female passenger who warned him.

According to the police on the 15th, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul received a report of an assault between a man, Mr. A, and a woman, Ms. B, on a train heading to Gangnam-gu Office Station on the Suin-Bundang Line subway around 3 p.m. on the 12th.

At the time, Mr. A was drinking canned beer with his mask lowered inside the train, and Ms. B, who saw this, warned him with the intention of "wearing a mask," which led to a dispute. Both parties reportedly claim to have been assaulted. In particular, Ms. B posted a message about the situation at the time of the incident on an online community, sparking controversy.

The police are currently investigating before filing charges by reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and hearing witness statements, and plan to summon them soon to verify the facts.