Verbal and Physical Abuse on Airplanes and KTX... Won Hee-ryong: "There Will Be No Tolerance"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, recently expressed a firm stance to take strong measures regarding the series of verbal abuse and assault incidents occurring on public transportation such as KTX, stating, "Under no circumstances will these be tolerated."

On the 17th, Minister Won said through Facebook, "The verbal abuse and assault incidents that recently occurred on KTX trains and airplanes are even more unacceptable crimes because they happened to children on public transportation."

Minister Won emphasized, "Passengers who cause disturbances must receive the maximum punishment prescribed by law," adding, "There will be no tolerance whatsoever."

Earlier, around 4 p.m. on the 14th of this month, an incident occurred on a flight to Jeju where a passenger verbally abused the parents of a crying baby and caused a disturbance. On the same day, around 8 p.m., on a KTX train bound for Seoul, a passenger stood up and cursed, kicking seats because the children were noisy.

Minister Won added, "We will expand and strengthen the role of the railway judicial police to prevent crimes such as violence on public transportation in advance and to protect the safety of the majority of law-abiding passengers when such crimes occur."

He continued, "We will also organize a cooperation system with the police," and stated, "We will eradicate violence on public transportation through strong punishment and thorough preventive measures."