Rookie Cop Assaulted While Helping Drunk Man in Geoje

[Anchor]

A drunk man has been arrested in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, for assaulting a police officer who was trying to help him. A rookie police officer in his 20s suffered a fractured nasal bone.

KNN reporter Choi Hyuk-gyu has this exclusive report.

[Reporter]

A drunk man in his 40s is seen moving with the assistance of a police officer.

Although advised to go home, he sits down on the ground and causes a disturbance.

When officers attempt to issue a fine for the ongoing disruption, he suddenly throws punches.

The police officer collapses to the ground, and surrounding officers immediately subdue the suspect, A.

This is the scene of the incident.

Police were dispatched following a report from a business owner that man A was causing a disturbance at the establishment.

[Victimized Business Official: He wasn't our customer, but he came to our store...]

The assaulted officer was a probation police officer in his 20s who had recently been appointed.

He suffered a fractured nasal bone requiring surgery, making nearly two months of sick leave inevitable.

Police are investigating the suspect under detention on charges of obstruction of official duties resulting in injury.

Crimes defying public authority have been occurring continuously, including a recent incident in Busan where a man in his 50s threatened police with a construction nail gun before being arrested.

In the Busan and South Gyeongsang region alone, about 1,300 offenders of obstruction of official duties occur every year, and around 20 cases of special obstruction of official duties involving weapons and resulting in injury happen annually.

Within the police force, critics point out that punishments such as fines are too lenient, lacking the effectiveness needed to prevent infringements on public authority.

[Choi Hong-seok / President, Workplace Council of Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency: In actual field situations, cases ending with fines or suspended sentences are not rare... Especially given reasons like being in a state of intoxication, responsibility is mitigated or perceived as a simple impulsive act...]

In particular, there are growing calls for the establishment of practical support systems, including legal assistance and psychological recovery programs, for police officers harmed by obstruction of official duties.

(Video by Park Young-jun / KNN)

KNN Choi Hyuk-gyu
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.