South Korean courts sentence individuals for assaulting police and refusing breathalyzer tests

South Korean courts have issued a series of sentences against individuals for obstructing police duties and refusing breathalyzer tests while intoxicated.

In one case, a 59-year-old man received a six-month prison sentence suspended for one year after kicking a police officer in the face in Suwon. The incident occurred when officers attempted to wake him after he was found lying in the street while intoxicated.

A 56-year-old man was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for three years, for refusing a breathalyzer test in Chuncheon. Despite showing clear signs of intoxication following a traffic accident, he refused to comply with testing requests for approximately 25 minutes.

Additionally, a 27-year-old was fined 10 million won for drunk driving and obstructing justice in Hongcheon. After being caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.160%, the individual verbally abused and physically assaulted officers attempting to depart the scene.

The Chuncheon District Court noted that while the defendants admitted to their crimes, the sentences reflect the gravity of disregarding public authority and interfering with legitimate law enforcement duties.