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Man claiming to be exchange student arrested for assaulting officers while intoxicated

Published: 01 Apr. 2026, 21:18

The Jongno Police Station in central Seoul is seen in this file photo [YONHAP]

Police in Seoul arrested a man from the United States on charges of assaulting officers while intoxicated. The man told police that he was an exchange student at a “prestigious university” in Korea.

The Jongno Police Precinct arrested the man at around 12:43 a.m. on Wednesday in Donui-dong in the district on charges of obstructing official duties by assaulting officers, according to police,

Officers had responded to a report that “an intoxicated foreign man was unable to control himself and was rolling on the ground.” Upon arrival, police initially issued him a summary offense notice for disorderly conduct while intoxicated under the Punishment of Minor Offenses Act.

The man then allegedly verbally abused officers and threw punches after objecting to the measure.

“I am currently enrolled as an exchange student at a prestigious university,” the man said during questioning after arrest.

Police were unable to complete the investigation at the time because the man was heavily intoxicated and bleeding from an injury to his nose, according to police. He was released and will be summoned again for further questioning.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KWAK JOO-YOUNG [[email protected]]