Apply for the 'Pohang Induced Earthquake Lawsuit'... Pohang City Strengthens Focused Promotion for Lunar New Year

Promotion of 'Mental Damage Compensation Lawsuit' for Pohang-Induced Earthquake

Utilizing Major Electronic Billboards, Apartment Management Offices, and Village Amplifiers

Pohang City will operate a concentrated publicity week for the Pohang-induced earthquake damage compensation lawsuit from the 5th to the 12th in celebration of the Lunar New Year holiday.

Pohang City is strengthening publicity to prevent omissions in lawsuits related to the Pohang induced earthquake damages by operating a focused publicity week and conducting door-to-door visits during the Lunar New Year holiday.

During this period, the city will continue to operate the Earthquake Information Center even during the holiday to prevent any inconvenience to citizens and will take the lead in resolving related civil complaints, including guidance on the first trial lawsuit verdict and lawsuit participation procedures.

In addition, during the Lunar New Year holiday, the city plans to actively promote the earthquake lawsuit to visitors returning to Pohang, encouraging all eligible participants?including family members who temporarily left their hometown or elderly citizens who have difficulty moving and could not participate alone?to join the lawsuit without omission.

Furthermore, the city will conduct promotional activities to ensure that everyone visiting Pohang is informed about the Pohang earthquake lawsuit by broadcasting videos on electronic billboards at major local hubs, KTX stations, bus terminals, and main roads, as well as through banners, announcements via apartment complex management offices, and village loudspeakers.

On November 16 last year, the Daegu District Court Pohang Branch issued a first trial verdict in the Pohang-induced earthquake mental damage compensation (consolation money) lawsuit, ordering the payment of 2 million or 3 million KRW in consolation money to plaintiffs recognized as residents of Pohang at the time of the earthquake, opening the way for relief from mental damages caused by the Pohang earthquake.

Accordingly, Pohang City, the city council, and civic groups have continuously requested the government for collective compensation of Pohang earthquake consolation money. However, the government has yet to make any decision, so earthquake-affected residents must participate directly in the lawsuit to receive consolation money for mental damages, which will be determined in the final judgment.

Citizens wishing to participate in the Pohang-induced earthquake lawsuit can apply through law offices by bringing required documents such as a resident registration abstract, ID card, and seal. It is expected that the number of applications will surge at the end of February, so participating before the Lunar New Year holiday may help avoid congestion.

Jincheol Jeong, Director of the Earthquake Disaster Prevention Project Division, said, “We plan to actively promote so that earthquake-affected residents can participate in the lawsuit without omission by the end of February,” adding, “We will continue to make efforts to provide guidance and support to citizens to ensure there is no inconvenience in participating in the lawsuit.”

The city is also making efforts to prevent omissions in lawsuit participation and alleviate citizen inconvenience by conducting door-to-door promotional visits related to the Pohang-induced earthquake lawsuit, listening to citizens’ opinions through monitoring participation status, identifying problems, and seeking solutions.