Made a Speakerphone Call at the Train Station, "Sudden Trouble"... French Railway Imposes "300,000 Won Fine"

Caught by Station Staff While Talking on the Phone Waiting for the Train
Took It as a Joke, but the Fine Increased

A man in France was fined 200 euros (about 300,000 won) for talking on his cellphone speakerphone at a train station.

Recently, CNN reported the story of this man known as 'David.' The incident occurred on a Sunday at Nantes Station in western France. At the time, he was waiting for a train and talking to his younger sister on speakerphone. Then, an official from the French national railway company SNCF approached him. The SNCF employee told him, "If you do not turn off the speakerphone, you will be fined 150 euros (about 225,000 won)." However, the man initially took this as a joke.

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David recounted the situation, saying, "(Regarding my reaction) the employee seemed upset. He immediately took out a notebook and fined me." He did not pay the fine on the spot, so the fine increased to 200 euros. It is known that the passenger hired a lawyer to contest the fine.

Debrett's, the British etiquette and manners bible, announced new etiquette rules for cellphone use in 2023. The guidelines state, "Make phone calls alone. When making video calls in public places (or if holding the phone to your ear is too bothersome), you must use headphones or earphones." It adds, "No one should be forced to listen to your conversation. It can annoy others to the point of disturbance, cause disruption, or embarrassment."

Meanwhile, in South Korea, causing noise or disturbance in public places is punishable under the Minor Offenses Act. Article 3, Clause 20 of the relevant law defines "persons who cause loud noise or disturbance with rude words or behavior in places where many people gather or pass by such as halls, theaters, restaurants, or on trains, cars, ships, etc., or who behave violently toward others without reason while intoxicated" as cases of drunken disturbance. Clause 21 of the same law defines "persons who make excessively loud sounds with instruments, radios, televisions, phonographs, bells, loudspeakers, electric motors, etc., or who talk loudly or sing, disturbing neighbors" as cases of neighborhood disturbance. For such minor offenses, a fine, detention, or penalty of up to 100,000 won may be imposed.