'Military Assault Death' Yoon Il-byeong Family's Compensation Lawsuit... 2nd Trial Also Dismisses State Compensation

1st and 2nd Trials Recognize Compensation Liability of 409.07 Million Won Only for Senior Corporal

On the morning of the 22nd, the family of Private Yoon Seung-joo, who died due to continuous beatings and harsh treatment by senior soldiers in 2014, held a press conference in front of the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu after the second trial verdict of the state compensation lawsuit was announced. The family filed a lawsuit demanding "the state compensate," but both the first and second trials were dismissed. The court only recognized the perpetrator's liability for compensation. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The appellate court did not recognize the state's liability for compensation, just as in the first trial, in the damages claim lawsuit filed by the bereaved family of the late Private Yoon Seungju, who died due to continuous assault and harsh treatment by senior soldiers, against the perpetrators and the state.

On the 22nd, the Civil Division 34-3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Kwon Hyukjoong, Lee Jaeyoung, Kim Gyeongran) partially ruled in favor of the plaintiff in the appeal lawsuit filed by Private Yoon's bereaved family against senior soldier Lee and the state.

The appellate court ordered Lee to pay a total of approximately 409.07 million won to Private Yoon's bereaved family, the same amount recognized in the first trial. In the first trial, Lee was ordered to compensate 199.53 million won each to Private Yoon's parents and 5 million won each to his two sisters. The state's liability for compensation was not recognized in either the first or second trial.

Previously, Private Yoon, who served in the artillery battalion under the 28th Division in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, suffered from assault and harsh treatment by senior soldiers for about four months from the end of 2013 and died in April 2014. Senior soldiers, including Lee, were prosecuted on charges of repeatedly punching and kicking Private Yoon's face and abdomen, causing his death. The Supreme Court confirmed a 40-year prison sentence for Lee on murder charges, and 5 to 7 years imprisonment for the other accomplices on charges including injury resulting in death.

After the criminal verdict was finalized, Private Yoon's bereaved family filed a damages lawsuit totaling approximately 599 million won against the state and the main perpetrator Lee.