Mistaken for kidnapping while drunk... Taxi driver beaten indiscriminately and forced off highway

Taxi Driver "Saving Lives Despite Being Beaten"
"Thinking About It Makes Me So Frustrated and Angry"

An incident occurred where a drunken passenger who took a taxi bound for Suwon from Yeongdeungpo Station in Seoul indiscriminately assaulted the taxi driver, causing injuries requiring three weeks of medical treatment.

On the 5th, a video titled "If not arrived within 30 minutes, please report missing" featuring a taxi passenger's phone call and the subsequent assault was uploaded on the YouTube channel 'Han Moon-cheol TV'.

According to the report, Mr. A, who operates a private taxi in Suwon, was assaulted by a drunken passenger Mr. B while driving on Namgwangmyeong Expressway around 11 p.m. on the 24th of last month.

Mr. A's nightmare began at this moment. About 20 minutes after the taxi started, the intoxicated passenger began to change. Mr. B suddenly called his father and complained, "If I don't arrive within 30 minutes, report me as missing. I got in a taxi, but this XX... I don't really know where we're going."
[Photo by Han Moon-cheol, YouTube channel 'Han Moon-cheol TV']

At that time, Mr. A picked up the intoxicated passenger Mr. B at Yeongdeungpo Station in Seoul. Although he was about to move as an empty taxi, Mr. A, who took Mr. B, was pleased, saying, "I didn't expect someone from Suwon to come."

Mr. B, who got into the taxi, said, "I'm rather sorry," and Mr. A replied, "Even though you drank this much, you found the Suwon car well," then proceeded to the destination.

The passenger suddenly changed about 20 minutes after the taxi departed

Mr. A's nightmare began at this point. About 20 minutes after the taxi departed, the drunken passenger started to change. Mr. B suddenly called his father and complained, "If I don't arrive within 30 minutes, report me missing. I took a taxi, but this XX... I don't really know where I'm going."

Mr. A thought it was due to intoxication and did not respond much. However, Mr. B said, "I have GPS. I don't know where this XX is going." Mr. A asked, "That's ridiculous. You got in at Yeongdeungpo Station. Didn't you say to go to Sungkyunkwan University Station?"

Then Mr. B said, "But where are you going? You XX," and repeatedly told his father, "It came out to 21,360 won. If I don't arrive within 30 minutes after hanging up, just report me missing."

Eventually, Mr. B began demanding Mr. A to let him get off. When Mr. A said it was the expressway, Mr. B called 112 (police emergency number).

Mr. B told the police, "I think I'm being kidnapped right now," and asked, "Could you talk on my behalf?" handing the phone to Mr. A. Mr. A replied, "He said he was going to Suwon, so I'm heading toward Sungkyunkwan University Station. The passenger is very drunk. At first, he said 'I'm sorry, sorry,' but then cursed at me and acted strangely."

After that, Mr. B started swinging his fists at Mr. A. The assault lasted several minutes. Mr. A barely stopped the car, and Mr. B, staggering, dangerously wandered back and forth on the expressway.

Mr. A said, "I thought we might both die like this, so I kept following and restraining the passenger. Eventually, he went down under the expressway, so I stayed nearby until the police arrived and found him after a search. I feel very unfair and angry. While being hit, I basically saved that person's life."

Mr. A added, "(After the assault) my teeth are loose, my lips are split, and my neck doesn't turn well. I received treatment last Saturday and have been hospitalized since Monday. I have medical certificates from dentistry for 3 weeks, neurology for 3 weeks, and psychiatry."

Attorney Han Moon-cheol pointed out, "If a criminal settlement is reached, it will end with a suspended sentence, but if not, for example, if the treatment cost is 1 million won, the loss from not being able to work plus compensation would be 5 million won or more. The problem is the attitude rather than the amount of money."

He added, "(The perpetrator) must kneel and apologize properly. If a smooth criminal settlement is reached, it will be a suspended sentence of more than 3 years. There is no fine. However, if not forgiven by the victim, there is a 50% chance of a prison sentence."

On the 28th, Song Byung-hoon, Chief Judge of the Criminal Division 1 at the Pohang Branch of Daegu District Court, reportedly acquitted taxi driver Mr. A (in his 60s) and driver Mr. B (in his 40s), who were indicted for violating the Special Act on the Treatment of Traffic Accidents (causing death).
[Photo by Seo Dong-min, Asia Economy]

Meanwhile, both the taxi driver and the driver who were prosecuted in the 'female university student taxi jump incident' that occurred in Pohang last year were acquitted.

On March 4th last year, taxi driver Mr. C picked up a female university student near the KTX station in Buk-gu, Pohang. Mr. A misunderstood the destination the student mentioned and drove in that direction.

When the taxi headed in a different direction, the student, thinking she was being kidnapped, jumped out of the moving taxi. At that time, the student was hit by an SUV driven by Mr. D and was seriously injured. The student was later transferred to a hospital but died.

The prosecution charged Mr. A, who works in the taxi business, with professional negligence for neglecting hearing management. Mr. B was charged with speeding and failing to fulfill the duty of forward observation.

The court's judgment was different. The court explained the sentencing reason, stating, "It is judged that Mr. A could not have foreseen that the passenger would be scared and jump out of the taxi. It also seems that Mr. B found it difficult to avoid the accident after noticing the student at that time."