Settlement Reached in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed by Family of Late Prosecutor Kim Hong-Young... Supreme Prosecutors' Office to Create Memorial Space

On the morning of October 8 last year, at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office in Yangcheon-gu, the father of the late Prosecutor Kim Hong-young is wiping Kim's memorial plaque with a handkerchief.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The lawsuit filed by the bereaved family of the late Prosecutor Kim Hong-young, who made an extreme choice at the age of thirty-three due to harassment such as assault and verbal abuse by his superior, has been settled through mediation.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated that, in accordance with the court's decision, it will prepare a memorial space to remember Prosecutor Kim and strive to improve the organizational culture.

On the 17th, the bereaved family of Prosecutor Kim announced that they had submitted a consent form for the court's compulsory mediation decision. Earlier, on the 2nd, the Civil Division 20 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Hyung-seok) held a mediation hearing for the damages claim lawsuit filed by the bereaved family against the state and issued a compulsory mediation decision.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office had submitted its consent form earlier on the 8th. Accordingly, the lawsuit filed in November 2019 was concluded through mediation after about one year and seven months.

According to the family's legal representative, the court decided that the state and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office would work to improve the internal organizational culture of the prosecution, which influenced Prosecutor Kim's death, and to foster a culture of mutual communication and respect. They also decided to make efforts to establish a memorial space on the Supreme Prosecutors' Office premises or elsewhere to honor Prosecutor Kim and other fallen members.

The court explained the reason for its decision, stating, "We took into account the plaintiffs' request that Prosecutor Kim's sacrifice should not be in vain, and also considered that the defendant is making efforts to improve the organizational culture, such as revising the 'Prosecutors' Code of Ethics' to include an obligation to respect subordinates."

It added, "We hope that the defendant and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office will make every possible effort to ensure that such a regrettable and tragic incident never happens again."

Additionally, the court determined the amount the state must compensate, considering the lost future income (lost earnings) and consolation damages due to Prosecutor Kim's death. The amount was not disclosed.

The family's legal representative said, "Seeing recent incidents in the military, it is disheartening to confirm that workplace harassment has not yet been eradicated in our society," and added, "We hope this mediation agreement will contribute to the elimination of workplace harassment."

In a statement, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said, "We respect the court's decision, decided to accept the mediation, and submitted the consent form on the 8th. In accordance with the court's intent, we are reviewing the establishment of a place to remember Prosecutor Kim and other prosecution members who died while in service, and will continue to make efforts to improve the organizational culture."

It continued, "The Prosecutor General expressed condolences to Prosecutor Kim's family immediately after taking office," and added, "Once again, we extend our deepest condolences and gratitude."

Prosecutor Kim made an extreme choice at the age of thirty-three in May 2016, leaving a will expressing his stress and pressure from work while serving in the Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office.

Kim Dae-hyun, former chief prosecutor and superior of Prosecutor Kim, was dismissed at the Ministry of Justice's Prosecutor Disciplinary Committee held in August 2016. He filed a lawsuit to cancel the dismissal but was finally defeated by the Supreme Court in March 2019.

Meanwhile, in November 2019, the Korean Bar Association filed charges against former Chief Prosecutor Kim for coercion, assault, and insult. After review by the Prosecutorial Investigation Committee, the prosecution indicted former Chief Prosecutor Kim without detention on assault charges in October last year.

At the sentencing hearing held on the 25th of last month, presided over by Judge Kim Jun-hyuk of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 5, the prosecution requested a prison sentence of one year and six months for former Chief Prosecutor Kim. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the 6th of next month.