Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
Drunk truck driver blocks bridge in scuffle with police
By Kim Hyun-bin
A drunk truck driver caused a ruckus in the middle of Geoga Bridge connecting Busan and Geoje Island, and police fired live rounds to suppress the man.
According to the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, Tuesday, the intoxicated man in his 50s crashed his 25-ton trailer truck into a guardrail near the bridge at 11:25 p.m. on Monday, and locked himself inside the vehicle.
After refusing to follow police orders to get out of the truck for about 40 minutes, he rammed his truck into a patrol car again and totaled it. Police officers then fired one blank round and three live rounds. He kept moving and stopping his truck, forcing roads around the bridge to be shut down for five hours.
The skirmish was over after the police and SWAT team suppressed the man when he opened the door of the truck in an attempt to jump off the bridge.
The shutdown of the roads and the bridge was lifted at 6:30 a.m.
The man's blood alcohol concentration was 0.06 percent at the detention center, but police suspect his level was as high as 0.12 percent, which is subject to license cancellation. The police are questioning the man for details.