Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Taxi driver jailed for assaulting female passenger
Despite previous convictions, Bae was able to keep working as a taxi driver because assaulting passengers is not a “disqualifying offense. / gettyimagesbank
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
A taxi driver has been sentenced to six months in prison for attacking a female passenger.
Seoul Western District Court said Monday that it convicted the driver, surnamed Bae, 65, of butting the woman in the face and twisting her arm in Seoul at around 10 p.m. on May 28, 2018, after she complained about “unusually high charges.”
Bae, who had received a suspended prison term and fines for assaulting passengers seven times in the past, insisted that the woman hit him during the altercation, but the court did not accept the claim.
Despite previous convictions, he was able to keep working as a taxi driver because assaulting passengers is not a “disqualifying offense.”
Under the law, a person who receives a two-year sentence or higher for murder, drugs or sexual assault, among other serious crimes, cannot work as a taxi driver for at least two years after finishing the sentence, but use of violence is not one of these crimes.