End to Osan ‘Kicking Old Guys’ Saga

by Robert Koehler on March 7, 2008

Stars and Stripes reports:

South Korean employees at Osan Air Base will receive new training on protocol for entering high-security areas, and Osan officials will expedite a plan to replace all control entry line badges, base and union officials confirmed Wednesday.

The announcement follows negotiations between Osan and the U.S. Forces Korea Employee’s Union after two South Korean employees claimed they were treated with unnecessary roughness while being detained Feb. 15 for trying to enter a high-security area on the base.

According to an official from the U.S. Forces Korea Employee’s Union, one of the men was released from hospital this week, while the other will also be released this week. The two were hospitalized after the incident after one suffered a scratch on the cheek and the other suffered, well, I don’t know what he suffered, but whatever it was, it was clearly serious.

In addition:

Shin said all the hospital bills will be covered under their work insurance because the injuries were sustained on duty. He said neither man will be charged sick leave, but instead will be considered on administrative leave during the time they missed work.

Nice to see USFK has a heart.

(HT to reader)

{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Sperwer March 7, 2008 at 1:38 pm

and the other suffered, well, I don’t know what he suffered, but whatever it was, it was clearly serious.

[SIC]

Yeah, if the first guy spent more than two weeks malingering – oh, sorry, “recovering” – from a scratched cheek, the second guy must have broken a fingernail in order to justify a prolonged stay.

2 mateomiguel March 7, 2008 at 2:02 pm

We must understand them, they have had a hard life.

3 Nomad March 7, 2008 at 2:34 pm

Both men were seen by a doctor at the Osan medical center and were released with “no documented medical problems other than one minor abrasion,” according to Osan officials.

On Wednesday, Shin Seung-chul, head of the Songtan union chapter, said Lee Geon-ui, 63, was released from the hospital this week and will return to work on Monday. He added that Kim Seong-beom, 56, also should be discharged from the hospital this week.

Sounds serious. Hope both men fully rested recovered during their prolonged hospitalization.

4 SomeguyinKorea March 7, 2008 at 2:52 pm

I’ve had surgery performed here in Korea and I was out of the hospital in half a week.

5 mcnut March 7, 2008 at 3:17 pm

these idiots did not need hospital treatment

6 Inkevitch March 7, 2008 at 3:18 pm

While studying at a fairly major Seoul hospital we had a patient in for radial nerve palsy. It appeared some young woman had fallen asleep on his arm He came in on the Saturday, by the time I saw him on the Monday he had no paralysis but complained of parathesia. He stayed one more week just to be safe. He may have been trying to avoid his wife.

7 babotaengi` March 7, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Man, whenever I see the opportunity to take a few days off work, I jump at it. Who can blame ‘em? Their job probably sucks even more than mine.

8 Benicio74 March 7, 2008 at 4:41 pm

Korean doctors dish out 2 weeks “recovery” in a hospital(private clinic really) for the minorest of injuries and even fake ones- ask the ajumma who tried to sue me for her very serious(totally fake) neck injury that she incurred while running into my scooter on the street.
The hugely exaggerated recovery time ups the possibility of the blood money(hwap ee guem) getting into the millions of Won and the doctors get paid too, so they are more than happy to go along.
Me, I would absolutely freakin’ dread a 2 week stay in a clinic, but some of these people view it as a little rest & relaxation.

9 anunsaram March 8, 2008 at 12:00 am

Hell,….Jesus was tried, convicted, beaten within in inch of his life, crucified, and resurrected his own ass all within four days !

The Prince of Peace was no pussy, can’t say the same for these Korean girly-men.

Korean women on the other hand, take a brutal ass-whoopin’ from their oldman, and by 6:00am the next morning have the laundry done, and breakfast on the table.

God bless these women,…..A HARDY LOT THEY ARE !

10 Richardson March 8, 2008 at 9:32 am

I believe the Korean word for “hospital” in this case is Romanized as “room salon.”

11 SomeguyinKorea March 8, 2008 at 11:02 am

#8,

A lot of Korean doctors do, but not all.

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