'Seoul Spring' Real-Life Figure Lt. Col. Kim Orang Wins State Compensation Ruling...46 Years After Combat Death

Partial Victory for Kim Orang's Family
Court Orders State to Pay 300 Million Won to 10 Relatives
Compensation Recognizes Combat Death and Official Misrepresentation

The family of the late Lieutenant Colonel Kim Orang, who was killed while trying to protect his superior officer from rebel forces during the 12·12 military coup, has partially won a lawsuit they filed.

A memorial bust of the late Lieutenant Colonel Kim Orang erected in Gimhae. Photo by Yonhap News

On August 12, Chief Judge Yoo Changhoon of the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 911 ruled in a damages suit filed by 10 family members, including Kim's sister Kim Quaepyung, against the state for approximately 500 million won. The court ordered the state to pay the 10 plaintiffs a total of about 300 million won. The amount of compensation awarded varied for each family member.

Lieutenant Colonel Kim was the real-life inspiration for Major Oh Jin-ho, portrayed by actor Jung Haein in the 2023 film "Seoul Spring," which was released in November 2023.

During the 12·12 coup d'etat in December 1979, Lieutenant Colonel Kim, who was then Chief Secretary to the Commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, was killed in a gunfight with coup forces while trying to protect Commander Chung Byungjoo.

At the time, Kim's death was recorded as a line-of-duty death, but in 2022, the Military Death Investigation Committee reclassified it as a combat death. According to the Military Personnel Act, a line-of-duty death refers to a death occurring during the performance of official duties, while a combat death refers to a death resulting from engagement with the enemy, enemy actions, or while attempting to prevent armed riots, rebellion, or other public disturbances.

The family of Lieutenant Colonel Kim filed the lawsuit in June last year, stating, "We will hold the state accountable not only for his death but also for manipulating, concealing, and distorting the circumstances of his death."

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