Assigned to Maritime Patrol... Coast Guard Caught Squid Fishing and Drinking
- Input
- 2025-08-03 12:50:13
- Updated
- 2025-08-03 12:50:13
Court "2-month Suspension Justified"
Although there was a precedent 'Dismissal was excessive'
Attention drawn as 'Suspension Justified' precedent emerges
Although there was a precedent 'Dismissal was excessive'
Attention drawn as 'Suspension Justified' precedent emerges
[Financial News] The court ruled that the suspension of a coast guard officer who drank alcohol and fished for squid during maritime patrol duties was justified.
According to the legal community on the 3rd, the Seoul Administrative Court's Administrative Division 6 (Presiding Judge Najin Lee) ruled against the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by Coast Guard officer A against the Korea Coast Guard to cancel the suspension.
During the deployment period in 2022, A engaged in group drinking and squid fishing several times during dinner hours. Due to these misconducts being reported in the media 28 times, the Central Disciplinary Committee of the Korea Coast Guard imposed a two-month suspension in January the following year for violating the National Public Service Act and the Police Officers' Service Regulations. When the Coast Guard's internal investigation began, A was found to have instructed chefs to give false statements about purchasing alcohol with crew meal funds and bringing it aboard. It was also noted as a reason for disciplinary action that A was aware of and overlooked the fact that crew members received catches such as skate and ray from Chinese crew members while inspecting Chinese fishing vessels.
The court stated, "A not only engaged in deviant activities such as drinking and fishing on board during the deployment period but also brought alcohol purchased with misused funds aboard and instructed related parties to give false statements," and judged that "such actions constitute severe misconduct and gross negligence."
Furthermore, considering that A's actions were reported multiple times in the media, significantly damaging the honor and reputation of the Coast Guard, the court ruled that the public interest of 'establishing a strict work discipline and enhancing social trust in the Coast Guard' achieved by the suspension cannot be considered smaller than the disadvantage A would suffer from the suspension."
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyungsoo Reporter