A Japanese tourist who kicked a taxi driver during a fare dispute near Myeongdong Station in Seoul was arrested on the spot but left the country the following day, police said.
The Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul said Wednesday it had arrested a Japanese man in his 20s, identified only as A, on assault charges on January 5. A is accused of kicking a taxi driver in his 50s outside a convenience store near Myeongdong Station around 10 p.m. that day when the driver demanded payment.
A refused to pay the fare, claiming he had been dropped off at the wrong location. The taxi driver grabbed the bag of a woman traveling with A and demanded payment, leading to a physical altercation. During the confrontation, A kicked the driver. The driver was not injured, according to police.
A fled the scene immediately after the assault but was apprehended by police who responded to a report from a nearby shop owner. After questioning, A returned to Japan on a pre-booked flight the morning of January 6.
Police said they did not impose a departure ban because the charges did not constitute a serious enough crime to restrict travel. The investigation will continue while A remains abroad.
Under Korea's Immigration Control Act, an exit ban for investigative purposes can only be requested for crimes punishable by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment of three years or more. Simple assault carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison or a fine of up to 5 million won, falling short of the exit ban threshold.
Disputes between foreign tourists and taxi drivers have been a recurring problem. In January this year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government introduced measures including bilingual receipts and surcharge notifications after a series of overcharging incidents targeting foreigners in tourist areas such as Myeongdong and Gangnam.
Japan's TBS also reported in September last year on cases of Seoul taxis charging foreigners up to three times the normal fare. Observers say countermeasures are needed as fare disputes have also led to violence by tourists, as in this case.