Mother Unaware for 7 Years of Son's Sewol Ferry Death... Court Orders State to Pay 400 Million Won Compensation

Won Appeal in State Compensation Lawsuit, Overturning First Trial Verdict

The biological mother, who learned belatedly that her son had died in the Sewol ferry disaster, lost the first trial in a damages lawsuit against the state but won in the appellate court.

According to the court on the 5th, the Civil Division 9 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Seong Ji-yong) ruled on the 25th of last month in the appeal trial of the damages claim lawsuit filed by B, the biological mother of A, against the state, reversing the first trial and ordering the state to pay 400 million won in compensation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A was raised by his father after his parents divorced in 2000 and had little contact with B. A passed away in the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, but it is known that the father did not inform B of this.

B learned of A's death in January 2021 when an official from the Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters called her after noticing that she had not received the national donations for the Sewol ferry disaster victims.

At that time, B reportedly sobbed uncontrollably during the conversation, asking, "Did our A die because of the Sewol ferry?" and "Did he attend Danwon High School?"

The first trial initially dismissed A’s claim, citing the statute of limitations. However, the appellate court judged that B learned of A’s death in January 2021 and filed the lawsuit within the three-year statute of limitations stipulated by civil law.

Furthermore, the court stated, "The Coast Guard must bear a stricter duty of care in the performance of their duties than land police or firefighters," and ruled that "the failure to exercise authority constitutes an illegal act violating official duties, and negligence is also recognized."

Previously, 228 families of Sewol ferry victims filed a damages lawsuit against the state and Cheonghaejin Marine Company. In January, the Seoul High Court recognized the state's responsibility and partially ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The Ministry of Justice accepted the ruling to pay approximately 88 billion won and did not appeal to the Supreme Court, finalizing the judgment.