The court partially recognized the state's liability for compensation regarding the victim who was rescued at sea during the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster but died due to delayed transfer to medical facilities.
On the 10th, Judge Kim Seung-gon of Civil Division 211 at the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff in part, ordering the state to pay 10 million won to the family of the late Im Gyeong-bin in a damages lawsuit filed against the state.
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Hwang Kwang-mo = On the afternoon of the 10th, in front of the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, participants are speaking at a press conference held by the April 16 Promise National Solidarity regarding the damage compensation ruling for the neglect of rescue of the late Lim Kyung-bin. Family members of the victims and citizens expressed their positions. 2024.6.10
However, the bereaved family also filed claims for damages against individual members of the Coast Guard command, including former Commissioner Kim Seok-gyun of the Korea Coast Guard, former Commissioner Kim Su-hyeon of the West Sea Coast Guard, former Chief Kim Mun-hong of the Mokpo Coast Guard Station, and former Captain Lee Jae-du of the 3009 ship, alleging neglect of rescue operations at the time, but the court dismissed these claims. The court stated, "Overall, the negligence of public officials due to delayed transfer is recognized, holding the state responsible for damages," but added, "However, intentional or gross negligence by individual officials is not recognized, so claims against individuals are dismissed."
According to the investigation by the Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters, Im was found by a Coast Guard boat at around 5:24 p.m. on April 16, 2014, and transferred to the 3009 ship. However, former Commissioners Kim Seok-gyun and Kim Su-hyeon left by helicopter, missing the 'golden time' to promptly transfer Im to a hospital, and he only arrived at Mokpo Korean Hospital at around 10:05 p.m. that day. More than 4 hours and 40 minutes had passed since the rescue.
The bereaved family filed the lawsuit claiming that the Coast Guard command at the time took no measures to promptly transfer Im to the hospital after finding him at sea. They argue that the Coast Guard, not medical personnel, presumed Im was dead and stopped cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Immediately after the verdict, the bereaved family held a press conference, protesting, "The court must properly rule on the responsibility for not rescuing 304 people." Jeon In-suk, Im’s mother, appealed, "No one has revealed the story of why my son, who should have been transferred to the hospital, was not transferred that day," adding, "For the victims of this unjust disaster, for our family who live unable to die, and for our child Im Gyeong-bin, we will fight to the end until those responsible are identified and punished."
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