Two soldiers beat a taxi driver bloody in Hyesan on April 18 after he refused them a free ride. The incident highlights military impunity violence that keeps many North Korean people living in fear. A Daily NK source in Ryanggang province reported the details. The driver, a man in his 40s, waited for passengers in the Masan neighborhood. Two soldiers approached and demanded a free ride to Yonbong neighborhood, roughly two kilometers away.
The driver explained that he could not afford to take them for free. Rising fuel prices and falling income left him with no choice. He offered to accept half fare as a compromise instead. The soldiers shot back that they had no money. When the driver held firm, they attacked him without warning. They punched him repeatedly in the face in front of bystanders. Onlookers began shouting and crowding around, so the soldiers fled. The driver sustained visible facial injuries and could not work for several days.
The source said identifying the perpetrators would be very difficult. Any meaningful compensation remains effectively out of reach. Similar incidents have recurred for years with little accountability. “Taxi drivers fear soldiers the most,” the source stated. Many cases involve soldiers stopping passing vehicles to demand money. They also order drivers to hand over goods. When that happens, both drivers and passengers tend to freeze up.
Some soldiers resort to beatings when their demands go unmet. They also threaten people with weapons, compounding the sense of dread. The driver knew the risks but refused the soldiers anyway. He needed the income to survive despite the danger. Public reaction in Hyesan largely criticized the soldiers after the incident. Most people condemned the use of violence regardless of the soldiers’ financial circumstances. One person said the military had become synonymous with theft in the public mind.
Young men who were once well brought up at home learn to steal and brawl in uniform. A minority defended the soldiers, however. They argued that civilians should show more understanding for military hardships. Others said the driver had been unwise to push back against unpredictable soldiers. The source framed the episode as larger than a simple fare dispute. Without institutional mechanisms to control soldier violence, these incidents will keep happening. The source added that similar attacks have occurred for years with no punishment. Consequently, ordinary North Koreans live in constant fear of uniformed personnel. The taxi driver’s case will likely go unresolved like many others. No government response has been reported for this incident. Authorities rarely punish soldiers for crimes against civilians.
