Disability from Traffic Accident During May 18 Protest... Court Orders State Compensation

Gwangju Court Orders Government to Pay 35 Million Won to Victim
Disability Recognized as Suffered During Resistance Against Constitutional Order Destruction

A court has ruled that the government must compensate a participant of the May 18 Democratization Movement for psychological damages after the individual suffered a physical disability in a traffic accident while riding in a protest vehicle.

The Gwangju District Court Civil Division 11 (Presiding Judge Hong Kichan) announced on September 7 that it had partially ruled in favor of the plaintiff in a damages lawsuit filed by Mr. A against the government. The court ordered the government to pay Mr. A 35 million won.

Mr. A, who was 18 years old on May 20, 1980, participated in a protest in downtown Gwangju against the suppression by martial law forces. While riding in a protest vehicle, he was seriously injured in a traffic accident, resulting in severe facial injuries that left him with lasting difficulties in speech and eating, as well as being classified with a physical disability.

The court stated, "It is recognized that the plaintiff suffered a disability while participating in the struggle to resist the constitutional order-destroying crimes committed by the new military regime," adding, "The physical and psychological suffering must have been considerable."