Court Orders Compensation For Seuol Victims' Families

A Seoul court on Thursday ordered the state to compensate families of victims from a 2014 ferry sinking that killed over 300 passengers aboard, acknowledging the state is liable for their suffering.

SEOUL, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jul, 2018 ) :A Seoul court on Thursday ordered the state to compensate families of victims from a 2014 ferry sinking that killed over 300 passengers aboard, acknowledging the state is liable for their suffering.

The Seoul Central District Court awarded 200 million won (US$177,000) in compensation for each deceased passenger and 40 million won to parents of students who lost their lives in the tragedy.

It is the first court ruling that upholds the victims' call for state liability in the accident that shocked the nation four years ago.

In September 2015, 354 bereaved family members of 118 victims lodged the suit against the state, asking the court to determine "state liability for the cause, lax handling and result" of the accident. They sought a combined 107 billion won payout, or about 1 billion won for each victim.

The Seuol ferry sank off the southwestern coast of South Korea while en route to the resort island of Jeju, on April 16, 2014. The accident claimed 304 lives, mostly high school students on their way to a school trip.