By Kim Jae-heun
Korean rescue workers are learning to defend themselves from possible attacks by drunks.
According to the National Fire Agency, Tuesday, it launched a three-day course teaching self-defense to 50 rescue workers at the National Fire Service Academy in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, Monday.
The move comes amid growing violence against firefighters and rescue workers. The latest case of its kind occurred in April when a 19-year veteran rescue worker died of a stroke believed to be linked to stress from verbal and physical abuse she suffered at the hands of a drunken man.
Attacks against rescue workers have numbered up to 564 over the past three years _ 199 in 2015, 198 in 2016 and 167 in 2017.
The rescue workers learned about the nature of intoxication and how to deal with unruly people. They also learned to secure effective evidence for punishing attackers under the law.
The agency will operate an additional course for another 50 rescue workers from June 25 to 27.
“There should be no assaults of rescue workers, who are there to help people in danger. We will strictly deal with any attacks as it is considered a grave crime,” an agency official said.