'Who Bears the Burden of Proof for Sudden Acceleration in Cars?' Policy Seminar Held

A policy seminar discussing the improvement of consumer rights by shifting the burden of proof for sudden unintended acceleration in automobiles from consumers to manufacturers will be held.

The Korean Society for Consumer Safety and the Korea Consumer Safety Association announced on the 23rd that, together with National Assembly members Park Yong-jin (Legislation and Judiciary Committee), Park Jeong-ha (Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee), and Jeon Yong-gi (Environment and Labor Committee), they will hold a consumer safety policy seminar on the 26th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the National Assembly's 9th Conference Room.

Black box footage titled "YF Sonata Sudden Acceleration Video" uploaded to an online community and the scene immediately after the accident. [Photo by Online Community YF Sonata Club]

Following a sudden unintended acceleration accident in Gangneung last December, in which the grandson of the driver (grandmother) died, a legislative petition demanding amendments to the Product Liability Act filed by the bereaved family received over 50,000 signatures within 10 days.

Taking this opportunity, legislators Jeong Woo-taek, Park Yong-jin, and Heo Young proposed a bill to amend the Product Liability Act (shifting the burden of proof). The seminar will focus on this bill, with experts from various fields engaging in in-depth discussions to explore ways to enhance the effectiveness of consumer rights remedies.

Choi Byung-rok, president of the Korean Society for Consumer Safety (Department of Police Science, Seowon University), will present the main topic. Panelists include Jeong Ji-yeon, Secretary General of the Korea Consumer Federation; Ban Ju-il, professor of Global Business at Sangmyung University; Kim Ji-hoon, director of the Korea Claims Adjusters Association; Ha Jong-seon, representative lawyer of Naru Law Office; and Oh Jong-hee, head of the Consumer Safety Education Division at the Fair Trade Commission.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.