Drunk Woman in Her 50s Slaps Firefighter and Bites Police Officer in Series of Attacks

[Financial News] A report was filed late one evening last winter at a private bar in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.
By the time police arrived at the scene, a disturbance had already been going on inside the bar for nearly 30 minutes. A 55-year-old woman, identified as A, was cursing at other customers and picking fights. She assaulted the bar owner, identified as B, and kicked and shattered a glass door inside the establishment. The chaos continued for about 30 minutes until she was arrested in the act by officers who responded to the call. During that time, B had to stop operating the bar.
A's violent behavior did not stop after her arrest.
While being taken to a patrol car on the street in front of the bar, she bit the back of the hand and thigh of a police officer from Seodaemun Police Station. Even after being moved to the police station, the assault continued. Inside Seodaemun Police Station, A splashed water from a paper cup, handed to her by an officer, into the officer's face.
A firefighter was also injured. Police requested joint response at the scene, and a firefighter from Seodaemun Fire Station was dispatched to the bar. The firefighter was measuring her oxygen saturation to check her condition. At that moment, A suddenly slapped the firefighter across the face with her palm. Prosecutors said the act obstructed the lawful performance of duties related to emergency medical response by a fire official.
A was eventually indicted on charges of obstructing the bar's business, damaging property by breaking the glass door, and interfering with the official duties of police officers and firefighters.
According to legal sources on the 26th, Single-judge criminal division No. 1 at the Seoul Western District Court, presided over by Judge Park Ji-won, sentenced A to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, on May 8 for obstruction of business, property damage, and obstruction of official duties. The court also ordered 120 hours of community service.
The court found A guilty based on her testimony in court and the statements of the victimized owner B, the police officer, and the firefighter. It also relied on photos of the injured areas, scene photos, analysis materials from the bar's closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, and the 112 police report record.
The court viewed A's prior fine for obstructing official duties as an aggravating factor. It also noted that she appeared to have shown violent tendencies while intoxicated, and that three public officials were injured in the attack.
However, the court took into account that the prior conviction was a fine imposed more than 15 years ago and that she had no other significant criminal record. Her criminal settlement with bar owner B was also reflected in sentencing.
The firefighter's request for a compensation order was dismissed. The court ruled that the request did not involve a crime eligible for such an order.

[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter