G.I. caught on cam beating Korean taxi driver

Social Affairs

Published: 05 Dec. 2022, 18:46 Updated: 06 Dec. 2022, 17:48

G.I. caught on cam beating Korean taxi driver

Footage from the taxi's dashboard camera shows the U.S. soldier violently assaulting the driver in front of the vehicle across the road from Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, just south of Seoul. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

A U.S. soldier who allegedly beat a taxi driver so severely that he could not work for a number of days was designated a criminal suspect by police early Sunday.

The U.S. soldier’s alleged attack was recorded by a dashboard camera inside the taxi at 1:30 am. on Nov. 27. In the footage, the 58-year-old taxi driver can be seen crouched over trying shield his head with his hands from the assailant’s punches.

According to the Seongnam Sujeong Police Precinct in Gyeonggi, the assailant got in the taxi near Itaewon Station, Yongsan District in central Seoul and got off across the road from Seoul Air Base in Sujeong District, Seongnam, just south of Seoul.

The soldier appeared to be inebriated when he got in the cab. A Korean-speaking friend gave his destination to the driver.

During the drive to Seongnam Air Base, the soldier asked the driver to stop at least four times so that he could open the rear door, according to the driver, for reasons that are unclear.

Upon arrival at Seoul Air Base, the soldier tried to pay the fare with a credit card, but the card didn't work.

Both the driver and the soldier headed to a cash machine at a nearby convenience store, where the soldier said he would withdraw money.

But as they passed the front of the vehicle — and in full view of the dash cam — the soldier began to violently assault the taxi driver.

The assailant punched the cab driver at least ten times in the face, despite the driver’s efforts to protect his head.

“I covered my face with both arms because I thought I should try not to get hit in the face, but he hit my head so hard from both the front and the back,” the driver said in an interview with SBS.

“I vomited when I got home. Even now, I feel nauseous and my head hurts so much that it’s so hard to live my daily life.”

He added, “Although I still feel sick, my circumstances are such that I can’t afford to stay in hospital for treatment, so I’m just hanging on by taking medicine at home.”

Police said they would summon the soldier for questioning soon.

Under the South Korea-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), South Korean authorities have jurisdiction over all crimes committed by members of the U.S. military committed within its territory and punishable under its law.

Exceptions include crimes that are not covered by Korean law or those that occur while a U.S. service member is carrying out official duties.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]