Police officers caught violating COVID-19 distancing rule

Six police officers in Sejong have been caught binge drinking while the city and the rest of the country enforced bans on public gatherings of five or more people to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Gettyimagesbank

By Ko Dong-hwan

A group of police officers has been caught violating the government's COVID-19 distancing rule by holding an alcohol-fueled party at an apartment complex.

According to the North Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency Monday, the police officers violated the rule banning gatherings of five or more people amid the pandemic. They were discovered after police received a complaint over “noise from the upper floor” at Jochiwon Village in Sejong, Feb. 1.

Whether the officers were drinking on duty has not been confirmed. They said they were celebrating the promotions of some of their colleagues, according to the local Chosun Ilbo daily.

The province has been enforcing the ban since Dec. 24, 2020. Violators must pay a fine of 100,000 won ($90).

According to telecom service provider KT, the gathering ban has helped reduce the number of COVID-19 infection cases. The company's analysis based on smartphone big data shows that the ban slowed down the rising curve in people traffic in Seoul from Dec. 23 when the city introduced the ban ― leading to the lowering of coronavirus infections.