By More details have been released from last November’s tragic accident involving a USFK bus that killed two Korean sisters and injured 15 USFK servicemembers:
The bus driver was traveling from Kunsan Air Base to Osan Air Base on Nov. 25. The collision killed two South Korean sisters and critically injured six other relatives in the van. None of the 19 Americans in the bus was seriously injured.
Bus driver Shin Dong-se, a South Korean employee at Kunsan, and the family members gave police conflicting reports about what caused the wreck, according to a Hongsung police spokesman.
Shin told police that the van was parked on the side of Highway 15, which family members originally denied. Shin also told police during their investigation that he struck the van after swerving to avoid another car in front of him that braked suddenly.
Police in December said their investigation concluded the vehicle was on the shoulder of the road at the time of the crash, but they were unable to determine whether the van was parked or moving. They forwarded their investigation to the Korea Road Traffic Safety Authority for review.
After the results were returned, police say, the family admitted they were driving on the side of the road.
The police spokesman said even though the family accepted partial blame for the crash, Shin likely faces charges of negligent homicide.
The spokesman said Shin has until Feb. 20 to reach a financial settlement with the victims’ family, a South Korean practice that can help the accused avoid imprisonment or earn a lighter sentence. [Stars & Stripes]
Notice how the driver of the van lied about what happened, but is facing no charges. The bus driver said the car in front of him suddenly braked and he swerved to the right to avoid an accident and hit the van instead. Common sense seems to say that the car in front of the bus probably braked because the van was driving on the side of the road thus leading to the accident. It would seem though that the bus driver is the most at fault since he was either traveling so fast or was driving so inattentively that he did not react quick enough to the vehicle in front of the bus braking.Â
What is educational about this incident is that it is a perfect example of how the Korean legal system for accidents works. If the bus driver pays the full compensation money he will avoid jail time. If only partial money is paid then he will receive only a partial jail sentence.Â
10:11 am on February 7th, 2008 1
“What is educational about this incident is that it is a perfect example of how the Korean legal system for accidents works.”
That’s right. Now would the GI remember this (how the law works) the next time an accident occurs between a Korean and an American? Or would will it turn to another race victimization time?
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12:14 pm on February 7th, 2008 2
Sure Tom, let’s all remember this. Just like all the Korean citizens surely remembered this back in 2002 when two Korean girls were accidentally killed by a US military vehicle. The US Army, following Korean law, paid a large settlement to the families of the deceased and all the Koreans, being satisfied that the Korean legal system was respectfully observed, let the whole matter drop in a very mature fashion. You probably didn’t even notice the event at all if you had happened to be in Korea at the time.
Clearly, all foreigners in Korea should stop playing the race card as we can see that the Korea legal system is completely unbiased. Thanks for reminding of this Tom.
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12:24 pm on February 7th, 2008 3
I would think the fact the van was on the shoulder of the road would be the deciding factor when assigning guilt – criminal or monetary.
If it had not been where it was not supposed to be, the bus never would have collided with it. The bus driver might not have been paying attention or was going to fast….since we generally fault the rear vehicle in a rear ending situation….he did react in a way you would expect — by aiming his vehicle to the shoulder area — where you are supposed to have space for just such situations. It would be a different ballgame altogether if he had swerved into traffic…
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12:43 pm on February 7th, 2008 4
However, in the Korean system since the family in the van suffered fatalities generally the Korean authorities side with them no matter how much at fault they were for the accident. Considering the circumstances, if the bus driver can get a compensation payment together, I would be surprised if he saw jail time.
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1:16 pm on February 7th, 2008 5
I would say the teaching point is that it is a perfect example of how the first instinct of a Korean when questioned is to lie.
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1:49 pm on February 7th, 2008 6
Scott,
I hope your reply was sarcasm.
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3:50 pm on February 7th, 2008 7
I thought his reply was literally dripping with sarcasm
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8:50 pm on February 7th, 2008 8
I think the bus must of been traveling very close to the vehicle in front of it not to have time to to slow down and as in normal Korean driving operations….why stop when you can ether weave into the on coming lane or the shoulder to keep from having to slow down
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9:38 pm on February 7th, 2008 9
Koreans can kill all the Koreans or Americans and your average kim on the street wont give to shi ts. That is the Korean way. They only care when it involves foreigner (Japanese or American) because they know they have deep pockets and can give Koreans cash if they whine loud enough.
Koreans are still demanding that Japan pay for her legal annexation of Chosun. Even after all the wonderful things Japan has given Korea. Culture and infrastructure etc.. They will be demanding money from the Americans for the next 100 years.
In general, Koraens only care if they can get money out of the deal. Koreans in general don’t respect life like Japanese or American. They lack empathy for their fellow man. However, they do respect MONEY.
I am pretty sure if the drunk adussi who killed these girls had just waived a wad of cash under the noses of the parents, all this would have gone away.
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