Drunk US soldier hijacks taxi in Seoul, tasered, arrested by Korean police

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United States Forces Korea (USFK) are investigating a serviceman who was arrested after hitting a taxi driver in downtown Seoul and trying to steal his cab, before being relentlessly tasered in a brawl with police.

Irresponsible drinking landed the infantryman in trouble in Itaewon, a frequently visited shopping and entertainment area in central Seoul, where he was socializing on a weekend night. Things ran out of control when the man assaulted a local taxi driver and tried to hijack his car.

The soldier then reportedly engaged in a confrontation with Korean police officers, who tasered him and brought him into US custody. He is now facing charges of assault, robbery, driving under the influence, and underage drinking.

US Forces Korea (USFK) said what they had to say. โ€œWe take this matter very seriously,โ€ Lt. Col. Martyn Crighton, a 2nd Infantry Division public affairs officer, told Army Times. Troops are required to obey South Korean laws, US military regulations and โ€œremain good neighbors with the Korean community,โ€ he said.

Gen. Robert Abrams, USFK commander, tweeted that his troops are โ€œambassadors who represent our country on and off duty,โ€ and come to Korea as โ€œguests.โ€

Incredibly, the news came just about a month since the military suspended its longstanding curfew for all troops stationed in Korea. US troops were told to be on base, at a flat or a hotel room by midnight instead of 1am.

According to USFK, the restriction was to tackle โ€œservice member behavior, morale, and readiness factors.โ€ It had previously been rescinded in 2010, but was brought back for years later after South Koreans became enraged about two high-profile rape cases involving US soldiers.

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Chief Assignment editor is Oleg Siziakov

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