Drunks out of control in sweltering heat

Drunks are giving police a hard time by causing public disturbance. / Yonhap

By Hong Dam-young

Korea is suffering from sweltering summer heat and so are police who have to deal with the drunks. As night creeps in, people start going to outdoor bars to cool off.

It could be one way to forget about the heat, but when drinkers become a public nuisance, the situation can pose problems for police, too.

The number of cases resulting from “disturbance caused by drinking” has surged over the past few days.

Last year, the number of such cases in July and August, 504 and 588, respectively, was almost double the average of rest of the months (300). This summer is no different.

People living near outdoor bars have been complaining about drunks who yell and sing loudly in public, regardless of police.

One resident in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, said it was difficult living in a neighborhood where outdoor drinking parties took place every night.

“Drunk people start fighting and making noise as night goes on,” she said. “I see the police stepping in sometimes.”

Some drunkards even fight police.

On July 10, a man, in his 6os, in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, was charged with resisting arrest after being reported for singing loudly at a public playground.

In Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, the same happened to a 50-something man who resisted police who tried to stop him drinking in a public park.

Adding to the problem, the streets are filled with trash and cigarette butts.

The owner of a convenience store who set up an outdoor patio at night said, “We are just offering places for people who want to enjoy a cold beer outdoors. It’s not against the law at all.”

South Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency has designated 65 regions with the highest rates of public disturbance reports as “Clean Areas” from July to August.

Repeat offenders face a 100,000 won ($89) fine.