Active Duty Soldier Assaults Paramedic Providing Treatment in Ambulance

Sudden Assault During Lip Injury Treatment
Up to 5 Years Imprisonment for Obstructing Emergency Activities
Incheon Fire Headquarters "Please Cooperate for Safe Care"

A soldier assaulted a paramedic while receiving treatment inside an ambulance. [Source=Incheon Fire Headquarters]

During the Chuseok holiday, an active-duty soldier assaulted a paramedic while receiving treatment in an ambulance.

According to the Incheon Fire Department on the 19th, around 12:30 a.m. on the last day of the Chuseok holiday, the 18th, a man in his 30s, active-duty soldier Mr. A, assaulted a paramedic inside an ambulance near Seo-gu Office in Incheon. Mr. A, who was receiving emergency treatment for a lip injury, suddenly punched the paramedic in the face, kicked him, and verbally abused him.

Reviewing the ambulance's internal CCTV footage revealed Mr. A wildly thrashing his arms and legs while indiscriminately assaulting the paramedic. The paramedic immediately reported the incident to 112, and Mr. A was handed over to the police who arrived at the scene. Im Won-seop, head of the Incheon Fire Department, stated, "Assaulting paramedics is a serious criminal act," and urged, "Please cooperate so that paramedics can provide prompt and safe treatment in emergency situations."

Meanwhile, according to the Fire Services Act, obstructing emergency medical activities can result in imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won. Additionally, under the Act on 119 Rescue and Emergency Medical Services, criminal charges may be filed. The Incheon Fire Department is strengthening education and publicity to prevent assaults on paramedics based on legal grounds, and has implemented measures such as attaching cameras to uniforms to secure evidence videos in response to such incidents. They are also providing psychological counseling and medical expense support to affected paramedics.