The victim‘s insurance company filed a compensation suit against the government after the U.S. corporal, identified only by the initial R, driving a five-ton army truck collided with a bike the victim was riding at an intersection in Suwon in September 2011. The victim sustained multiple fractures.

The court acknowledged the U.S. soldier’s wrongdoing in the accident, but held the government accountable for compensating the victim in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement signed between South Korea and the U.S. in 1966.

SOFA stipulates that South Korea is responsible for compensating third parties who suffer damages caused by U.S troops stationed here.

Around 28,500 U.S. soldiers are stationed in South Korea, where the U.S. military has maintained a large presence to deter North Korea‘s aggressions since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war. 

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)