KAIST Professor Indicted for Slapping Taxi Driver While Driving on Highway

Drunk, grabbed arm and obstructed driving
"I was drunk and made a mistake... I want to apologize"

A KAIST professor who assaulted a taxi driver on the highway while traveling from Seoul to Daejeon is set to face trial.

On the 27th, the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office announced that it had indicted A, a professor in his 60s affiliated with KAIST, without detention last month on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (assaulting a driver) and obstruction of official duties. A is accused of taking a taxi in Seocho-gu, Seoul on December 30 last year, saying "Let's go to Daejeon," and then assaulting the driver B multiple times by slapping his cheek and pulling his arm while intoxicated, thereby interfering with the driving.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. It shows the taxi stand at Seoul Station. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

At the time, despite B's protests, A continued the assault and interference with driving, causing B to drive for more than 30 km before finally stopping the car at a rest area. A was arrested by police who were waiting after receiving B's report. After the incident became public and sparked controversy, A stated, "I was intoxicated and not in my right mind, so it was a mistake," and expressed a desire to apologize if given the chance.

Meanwhile, recently, similar incidents of assaulting taxi drivers while intoxicated have occurred repeatedly. In particular, some perpetrators were active-duty police officers. On the 21st, the National Police Agency announced that it had transferred C, a police officer in his 30s, to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 19th. C is under investigation for assaulting a taxi driver by pushing the driver's chest and causing him to fall in Jung-gu, Seoul, around 1 a.m. on the 18th while intoxicated. It was also reported that he spat inside the taxi and had an altercation with the driver. However, since the victim did not want to press charges, the Jungbu Police Station in Seoul closed the case without booking C. Assault is a crime that requires the victim's complaint to proceed.

Additionally, on the 16th in Jeju, a drunk coast guard officer assaulted a taxi driver while driving. On the 19th, the Jeju Eastern Police Station announced that it had booked and was investigating Sergeant D, in his 30s and affiliated with the Jeju Regional Coast Guard, on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (assaulting a driver). D is accused of assaulting the taxi driver while riding in a taxi on a road in Jeju City around 11:20 p.m. on the 16th. As the assault continued, the taxi driver reportedly stopped the taxi on the shoulder and called the police. The Coast Guard has suspended D from duty and plans to begin disciplinary action once the investigation results are out.