Pohang City Proposes Special Measures for Lump-Sum Compensation of Psychological Damage from Induced Earthquake

Proposal to Amend Special Act Including Extension of Statute of Limitations and Establishment of Basis for Compensation of Mental Damage

Request to Devise Compensation Measures for All Affected Residents in Case of Final Confirmed Judgment

On the 23rd, Pohang City officially proposed to the government and the National Assembly a special national-level measure to provide lump-sum compensation for the mental damages (consolation money) caused by the Pohang-triggered earthquake.

On the 23rd, citizens are visiting the Ocheon-eup Administrative Welfare Center to receive consultation regarding the Pohang earthquake.

Following the Daegu District Court Pohang Branch 1st Civil Division's recognition on the 16th of the plaintiffs' mental damages (consolation money) in the Pohang earthquake-related damage compensation lawsuit filed by earthquake-affected residents, it has become possible for about 510,000 residents who lived in Pohang at the time of the Pohang-triggered earthquake to participate in the lawsuit, raising expectations of a litigation surge.

As a result of this ruling, numerous local Pohang lawyers have begun participating in the Pohang earthquake consolation money lawsuits, and inquiries from citizens are flooding in, raising concerns about administrative resource waste, inconvenience to affected residents, and the potential emergence of further social conflicts due to the lawsuits.

Moreover, with the statute of limitations approaching on March 20, 2024, there are concerns that elderly people, persons with disabilities, and long-term hospitalized patients in nursing hospitals may not be able to apply in time, causing further harm to the affected residents.

Accordingly, the city proposed to the government and the National Assembly amendments to the special law, including extending the application period for damage support funds (compensation) under the ‘Pohang Earthquake Damage Relief Act,’ extending the statute of limitations for damage claims, and establishing grounds for payment of consolation money for mental damages, to prevent citizens from suffering disadvantages due to the statute of limitations and lack of legal knowledge.

The recipients of the proposal include the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, Speaker of the National Assembly, People Power Party, and the Democratic Party of Korea.

Furthermore, the city requested that, in the event of a final court ruling confirming mental damages, a special measure be taken to provide lump-sum compensation to all affected residents regardless of their participation in the lawsuit.

A Pohang City official stated, “The court has recognized that the Pohang earthquake was triggered by the geothermal power generation project and confirmed the state’s liability for compensation for the mental suffering caused by the earthquake,” adding, “Along with proposing a special national-level measure for consolation money payment to affected residents, we will continue to provide guidance on inquiries to ensure that residents lacking legal knowledge do not suffer damage or inconvenience.”

Pohang City has launched an information center to resolve citizens’ inconveniences and questions related to the earthquake and urgently distributed a ‘Q&A on the Pohang-triggered Earthquake.’

However, since it is uncertain whether the government will accept Pohang City’s proposal, citizens’ lawsuits are expected to continue.

For inquiries related to the earthquake, citizens can visit the Pohang Earthquake Information Center located on the basement first floor of the City Hall Assembly Building or the information desks at the Eup, Myeon, and Dong administrative welfare centers for consultation or receive guidance by phone.

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