Gyeonggi Fire Department: "More Assaults on Paramedics During Holiday Periods"

Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] A total of 192 cases of assault on paramedics have been recorded in Gyeonggi-do over the past three years since 2020. In particular, 'assaults by intoxicated individuals' occurring while drunk during holidays accounted for 84.9%.

According to the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters on the 20th, there were a total of 192 cases of assault on paramedics in Gyeonggi-do from 2020 to 2022. Among these, assaults by intoxicated individuals accounted for 163 cases, or 84.9%. Notably, 57 cases, or 30% of all assault incidents, occurred during holidays such as traditional holidays and weekends.

Last September during the Chuseok holiday, a paramedic suffered injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment after being punched in the face by a patient who had fallen and been injured while drinking at a family gathering, inside a 119 ambulance en route to the hospital. The Fire Special Judicial Police of the provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters arrested the perpetrator and sent them to the prosecution.

In December of the same year, on a weekend, a paramedic who responded to a report of bleeding at a bar in Seongnam was verbally abused and assaulted, including being hit in the face by the patient.

The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters explained that most perpetrators of assaults on paramedics deny the assault, claiming they do not remember the incident once they are booked and investigated.

However, since last year, under the 'Special Act on Mitigation Regulations in the Criminal Act' regarding obstruction of emergency or rescue activities, mitigation is not allowed even if the assault is committed in a state of diminished mental capacity due to alcohol or drugs.

Cho Sun-ho, head of the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters, said, "Assaults on paramedics tend to occur mainly by intoxicated individuals during holidays and weekends when vigilance is likely to be lax," and urged, "Please keep in mind that assaults on paramedics ultimately lead to gaps in emergency response, making not only yourself and your family but all citizens potential victims."

Meanwhile, perpetrators of assaults on paramedics are subject to imprisonment of up to five years or fines of up to 50 million won under the Fire Services Act and the Act on 119 Rescue and Emergency Medical Services.