Gangnam traffic clogged in wayward contest of courage

A man sits on a chair in the middle of Gangnam Boulevard in southern Seoul, Wednesday. The man and his friend did so in order to test who could block traffic longer in a bet for drinks, according to police. / Captured from SBS

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By Kim Rahn

Two men sat on chairs Wednesday afternoon in the middle of busy traffic on Gangnam Boulevard in southern Seoul, in what turned out to be an ill-placed contest of courage to decide who would pay for drinks.

Who won? Neither one, with the game ending in traffic chaos and a police investigation.

Gangnam Police said Thursday they booked a 23-year-old man, surnamed Lee, without detention on suspicion of obstructing traffic.

According to police and witnesses, Lee walked into the middle of the four-lane road from Gangnam Station to Sinnonhyeon Station with a plastic chair and sat on it at around 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Cars were forced to brake or swerve around Lee, causing terrible congestion on the already busy road.

In the middle of the four-lane road going in the opposite direction, Lee's friend, 23-year-old Kim, did the same thing. He fled when police officers arrived on the scene but will be summoned for questioning soon.

Police said the two friends behaved thus because they were "bored". They were not drunk.

"Lee said they competed as to who could block cars longer to see who was more courageous. They agreed the one who stayed longer would win and the loser would buy the drinks", a police officer said.

Witnesses said the two apparently enjoyed the situation, waving to passing vehicles. When cars honked at them, they motioned the cars to pass, laughing.

They were accompanied by a couple of other friends. "They didn't stop the pair. Instead they cheered them on, themselves jaywalking to take water to Lee and Kim", the officer said.

Traffic was held up for about 30 minutes while the men sat in the middle of the road. The reckless game ended after policemen appeared following reports.

Lee and Kim are subject to up to 15 million won in fines.

Citizens criticized the men's behavior.

"We should put them in prison so that they can compete for who can stay there longer", one blogger wrote.

Another said, "You'll have to pay much larger fines for your silly acts than the drinking money you bet on the game. How pathetic!"