03.01.2017
KBS News
Video at link
Mr Jeong attacks Ms A’s car with a fishing hammer
A man in his 30s attacked a car with a hammer because the driver had honked their horn at him when he had switched lanes. He was detained by police. The incident occurred on the 14th of October of last year at half-seven in the morning in Busan’s Haeundae district, when a Mr Jeong threatened a Ms A, a 49-year-old female, and used a hammer of 25cm in length to beat the side of Ms A’s car and her mirrors ten times. He is suspected of having damaged the car. A police officer who is a fishing enthusiast confirmed that Jeong had used a fishing hammer, typically used to break up frozen bait.
Analysis: violent crime between strangers is astonishingly rare in Korea, particularly when considering that the vast majority of Koreans live in very densely urbanised areas. Driving is often chaotic and bad-tempered but physical confrontations and attacks between drivers are very uncommon – as demonstrated by national press coverage of this event. Korean criminal law places the blame for any assault or confrontation on whoever is least injured – self-protection isn’t a valid defence in court – and I believe it’s this particular aspect of Korea’s legal system which acts as a very effective deterrent against violence. Of course, as Mr Jeong’s behaviour shows, sometimes people will still engage in violent crime.