South Korean Bus Driver Sentenced to 12 Years for Leaving Taxi Driver Unconscious

A 50-year-old city bus driver has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a violent, unprovoked assault on a taxi driver that left the victim in an unconscious state. The incident occurred on March 5 around 7 p.m. near Oncheon Station in Asan, South Chungcheong Province.

The bus driver, who also served as the union representative for his company, reportedly became verbally abusive towards the 70-year-old taxi driver shortly after boarding the taxi in Yesan County, while heavily intoxicated. Upon reaching their destination, the bus driver began physically assaulting the taxi driver with his fists. When the taxi driver attempted to flee, the bus driver pursued him, knocked him down, and continued to strike his head and chest numerous times.

The victim was rushed to the hospital but has not regained consciousness since the attack. The assailant claimed during the trial that he did not intend to kill the taxi driver, but the court rejected this argument. The Daejeon District Court's Cheonan Branch handed down the sentence, citing the "cruel and indiscriminate nature" of the defendant's actions.

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The defendant's cruel and indiscriminate actions...