Victim’s mother files first damages suit over South Korea ferry disaster
Lawsuit seeking compensation from ferry company owners and South Korean government launched by the mother of one of the student victims from Danwon High School
The mother of a student victim of South Korea’s ferry disaster has filed a test lawsuit seeking damages from the government and the vessel’s owners, a court spokesman said on Friday.
It marks the first move toward litigation by any relatives of the nearly 300 people killed in the April 16 tragedy, which rocked the entire country.
The suit filed with the Seoul Central District Court claims 30 million won (HK$228,336) in compensation from the government and the Chonghaejin Marine, which owned and operated the 6,825-tonne Sewol.
It was filed by the mother of an unidentified student from Danwon High School in Ansan City, south of Seoul.
Of the 476 people on board the 6,825-tonnes Sewol ferry when it capsized and sank, 325 were students from the Danwon school.
Citing results of initial investigations into the disaster, the suit said the ferry’s stability had been undermined by renovations, and water ballast had been reduced to dangerous levels to make room for more cargo.
