Pohang Mayor Lee Gang-deok Strives to Resolve Citizen Inconvenience Over Induced Earthquake Lawsuit

Presiding Over Meeting on Minimizing Citizen Inconvenience... Directing Active Measures to Resolve Issues

Distribution of Public Guidance Leaflets and Over 30 Information Centers... Efforts to Alleviate Inconvenience

Continuous Proposal for

On the 27th, Lee Gang-deok, Mayor of Pohang, presided over a countermeasure meeting to minimize citizen inconvenience related to the mental damage compensation lawsuit triggered by the Pohang earthquake, emphasizing the city's active measures to resolve citizen discomfort.

On the 27th, Pohang City held a countermeasure meeting in the City Hall conference room to minimize citizen inconvenience related to the mental damage compensation lawsuit caused by the Pohang induced earthquake.

The meeting was attended by all heads of departments and offices, including the heads of Nam-gu and Buk-gu District Offices, where they shared citizens' inquiries regarding the lawsuit results and exchanged opinions.

Mayor Lee Gang-deok instructed, “As interest and inquiries about participation in the lawsuit concerning mental damage related to the earthquake have surged, we will frequently monitor the on-site situation in each eup, myeon, and dong to ensure citizens do not experience inconvenience and provide the maximum possible support within the bounds of the law.”

He also directed that citizens be informed about the judgment details and required documents, and that they be notified that the compensation amount may be partially adjusted during the appeal process.

Earlier, on November 16, the 1st Civil Division of the Daegu District Court Pohang Branch recognized compensation for mental damages in the lawsuit filed by residents affected by the Pohang earthquake, leading to a flood of inquiries from citizens.

In response, Pohang City urgently produced and distributed a citizen guidance leaflet to address citizens' questions following the court’s first-instance ruling, and established about 30 citizen guidance centers within City Hall and eup, myeon, and dong administrative welfare centers to minimize citizen inconvenience.

Additionally, to resolve administrative inefficiency and inconvenience to affected residents caused by the lawsuit surge, the city proposed to the Prime Minister’s Office and the National Assembly the establishment of special measures for collective compensation for mental damages.

Going forward, the city plans to revisit the proposal for national-level special measures for collective compensation for mental damages through visits to central government ministries, and will place citizen guidance leaflets in frequently visited locations to assist citizens who have not yet obtained information.

Since the November 15 earthquake, the city formed and supported the Pohang Earthquake Geothermal Power Joint Research Group, composed of earthquake experts and citizen representatives, to clarify the connection between the geothermal power project and the Pohang earthquake, and to investigate the cause and responsibility of the earthquake, thereby laying the groundwork for winning the lawsuit.

Moreover, the Pohang 11·15 Triggered Earthquake Pan-Citizen Countermeasure Committee, launched through voluntary citizen participation, has been working for the enactment of a special law, holding petitions, rallies in Seoul, and issuing various statements to uncover the truth of the Pohang earthquake, punish those responsible, and provide relief to victims.

The statute of limitations for claims for damages expires on March 20, 2024, and inquiries regarding this lawsuit and earthquake-related matters can be made at the Pohang Earthquake Information Center.

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