Korean Bar Association: Special COVID-19 Act Significantly Recognizes Responsibility for Vaccine Injuries

Korean Bar Association on the Passage of the "COVID-19 Special Act" in the National Assembly
"Significance Lies in Explicitly Acknowledging State Responsibility for Vaccine Injury"

The Korean Bar Association (KBA) stated that the passage of the "Special Act on Compensation for COVID-19 Damages" by the National Assembly is significant because it institutionally guarantees fair compensation for damages demanded by vaccine recipients who suffered adverse effects, and explicitly acknowledges state responsibility.

The core of the bill, which passed the National Assembly on April 2, is to expand the scope of vaccine injury compensation. For example, if facts such as the temporal correlation between COVID-19 vaccination and the onset of disease are proven, causality is presumed to exist.

The KBA has consistently argued that the government should bear the burden of proof in compensation review procedures. On December 8, 2021, the association issued a statement calling for a complete overhaul of the COVID-19 vaccine injury compensation system. It also published a "COVID-19 and Human Rights Report."

KBA President Kim Jungwook emphasized, "The KBA will continue its efforts to ensure that families affected by disasters receive adequate relief and are able to return to their daily lives."