Police Officers Fined After Escorting ‘Wasted Citizen’ Home

Gangbuk Police Station Incident Involving Intoxicated Individual
Drunken Man Dies in Cold After Being Taken Home
Officers Fined and Given Summary Order

News has emerged of police officers being fined after a drunken man they were dealing with died.

Recently, the Northern Seoul District Court issued a summary order of a fine of 5 million KRW (around $4,200) and 4 million KRW (around $3,400) respectively to Sergeant A and Corporal B of Mia Police Box under Gangbuk Police Station in Seoul, who was indicted on charges of professional negligence resulting in death.

In November 2022, they took a drunken man in his 60s, Mr. C, to his home. The two officers left Mr. C sitting on the stairs in front of his home without confirming whether he had entered his house. However, at that time, a cold wave warning had been issued in Seoul, with the lowest temperature dropping to -8.1 degrees Celsius (about 17.42 degrees Fahrenheit), and Mr. C was found dead six hours later.

The police reported the officers to the prosecutor’s office on charges of professional negligence resulting in death, assuming they neglected their duty considering the weather at the time and Mr. C’s condition.

According to the Police Duty Execution Act, police officers are required to protect individuals who are intoxicated and pose a risk to their own or others’ lives.

The victim’s family filed a non-prosecution request for those two officers, but the prosecutor’s office indicted them in summary form in September last year.

The Gangbuk Police Station held a disciplinary committee meeting the same month and issued a minor punishment to the officers.

Netizens have criticized the prosecution and the drunken individuals. Their comments include, “The police aren’t there to take drunks home,” “Drunks should be put in a holding cell and their guardians should come to pick them up,” “You shouldn’t drink to the point where you can’t control your body,” “Alcohol is making society sick,” and “Why punish them when the family doesn’t want punishment?”

According to the Police Duty Execution Act, it is clearly stated that ‘individuals who are intoxicated and pose a risk to their own or others’ lives should be protected’, but there are no specific regulations or guidelines on how far protective measures should be taken.

The police are pushing for the enactment of a law related to the protection of drunk individuals as a fundamental measure, but there has been no significant progress, while drunk individuals-related incidents are frequently occurring. Last month, a police officer in Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province, was verbally abused, insulted, and even shoved while taking an intoxicated individual, Mr. D, home.

Mr. D was arrested on charges of obstructing the execution of official duties.