South Korean man fined for assaulting designated driver over political remarks

A man in his 60s has been sentenced to a fine of 1 million won by the Ulsan District Court for assaulting a designated driver. The incident occurred in June 2023 in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do.

According to court proceedings, the defendant was using profanity and making harsh criticisms against a specific political party while riding in the passenger seat. When the 50-year-old driver requested that he stop discussing politics, the man struck the driver in the face. Following the assault, the defendant attempted to forcibly pull the driver out of the vehicle.

The court noted that the defendant has a history of similar offenses and failed to reach a settlement with the victim. However, the judge stated that the degree of violence and other circumstances were taken into account when determining the sentence.