"Is This Really Korea?" "Unbelievable, They Even Set Up Tables"... Drinking Party Spotted at Highway Rest Area

No Laws Specifically Prohibit Drinking at Rest Areas
Public Drunkenness and Obstruction of Business Charges Possible

Tourists are eating and drinking alcohol in the parking lot of Jinyeong Rest Area located in Gimhae, Gyeongnam. Online community

Controversy has arisen after photos surfaced showing a group of tourists setting up tables and eating food and drinking alcohol in the parking lot of a highway rest area.

On September 22, a post titled "Tourists Take Over Jinyeong Rest Area Parking Lot and Hold a Drinking Party" was uploaded to an online community, accompanied by photos.

The photos show a group of about 20 people setting up tables and eating in the empty space between parking spots reserved for large buses. According to the person who submitted the post, the tables had not only food but also green bottles of soju.

The informant stated, "On Sunday morning, the tourist parking lot was taken over. This was not just a simple meal-if you look closely, you can see bottles of soju. Judging by the number of vehicles, this seems to be a long-standing practice, but seeing it for the first time made me question whether this is really our country."

Under current law, there are no regulations that allow for punishment solely for drinking alcohol at a rest area, so management companies are only able to conduct their own campaigns. However, if those involved become intoxicated and cause disturbances with loud or aggressive language or behavior, they can be punished for drunken disorder under Article 3, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 20 of the Misdemeanor Punishment Act. Additionally, acts such as occupying parking spaces and preventing other vehicles from parking, as seen in this case, can also be punished as obstruction of work under Article 3, Paragraph 2, Subparagraph 3 of the same law.