Partial Victory for Family of Private Yoon Il-byeong in Military Assault Death Lawsuit... State Compensation Dismissed
[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The bereaved family of the late Private Yoon Seung-joo, who died due to continuous assault and harsh treatment by senior soldiers, won a damages lawsuit against the perpetrators. However, the claim for compensation against the state was not accepted.
The Civil Division 33 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cheolmin Jeong) ruled partially in favor of the plaintiff in the damages lawsuit filed by the family of the deceased Private Yoon against the state and Mr. Lee, who was a senior soldier at the time. The court ordered, "Mr. Lee shall compensate 199.53 million KRW each to Private Yoon's parents and 5 million KRW each to his two sisters." The damages claim against the state filed by the bereaved family was dismissed.
Private Yoon, who served in an artillery battalion under the 28th Division in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, suffered from assault and harsh treatment by senior soldiers for about four months starting from late 2013, and died in April 2014. Senior soldiers, including Mr. Lee, were prosecuted on charges of repeatedly punching and kicking Private Yoon's face and abdomen, causing his death. The Supreme Court recognized Mr. Lee's charge of murder and sentenced him to 40 years in prison, while the other accomplices were sentenced to 5 to 7 years in prison for charges including injury resulting in death.
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After the criminal verdict was finalized, Private Yoon's family filed a damages lawsuit seeking approximately 599 million KRW against the state and the main perpetrator Mr. Lee. After the verdict was announced, Private Yoon's mother, Ms. An Mija, expressed her frustration over the rejection of the state compensation claim, saying, "How can such a result come out?" She stated her intention to appeal, saying, "I will hold the military responsible until the end."
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