By This is an odd story that I think is more of a legislative issue with the Korean legislative branch needing to update antiquated laws than just some uncaring bureaucracy:
A compensation of 5,000 won ($4.30) to the family of a soldier killed in action in the Korean War was criticized by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) on Sunday as being an “unreasonable price for a life of the fallen.”
A woman surnamed Kim, 62, was notified by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in June that she would receive compensation for the 1950 death of her brother after an earlier request for compensation in December 2008 was rejected.
Kim, who was two years old at the time of her brother’s death, had not known about the existence of the brother until 2008. All other members of her family died in the Korean War, except for her mother, who suffers from amnesia. Following the war, Kim and her mother had settled down in a North Gyeongsang village, where her mother changed their surname to Park in the family registry under the head of the village.
It was only in 2008, when Kim tried to get back her real surname, that she discovered she once had a brother.
Kim’s first application for compensation in December 2008 was turned down by the ministry because it said the right of claim lasted five years from the 1950 death. In April 2010, a court ordered the ministry to pay Kim after she filed an administrative litigation.
The ministry then notified Kim that it would pay 5,000 won in compensation based on Korean War-era compensation regulations, which stated the family of a deceased soldier would receive 50,000 hwan, which is about 5,000 won today (10 hwan changed to 1 won during the currency reform in 1962).
Adjusted for inflation, 50,000 hwan is worth about 760,000 won today, according to the Bank of Korea. Fifty years ago, when Kim’s brother was killed, 50,000 hwan could purchase the equivalent of about 1.6 million won worth of rice and 3.8 million won worth of gold today. [Joong Ang Ilbo]
5:20 pm on October 18th, 2011 1
Three possible explanations:
1) someone in the government is a dick and resents the fact she won her case.
2) someone in the government is a dick and wants to discourage similar claims.
and/or
3) someone in the government is a dick and wants to create bad press for the government ahead of the coming elections.
5:22 pm on October 18th, 2011 2
Since my first comment didn’t pass the filters…
Three possible explanations:
1) someone in the government is a #@$& and resents the fact she won her case.
2) someone in the government is a #@$& and wants to discourage similar claims.
and/or
3) someone in the government is a #@$& and wants to create bad press for the government ahead of the coming elections.
6:40 pm on October 18th, 2011 3
The Korean VA.
My “Father-In-Law” lost his “left” thumb in a Chinese Offensive.
Throughout his life he applied for compensation.
He was always turned down because….GET THIS!!!!!
It was his “left” thumb, not his right one.
we are lucky to be Americans!!!
10:30 pm on October 18th, 2011 4
Here’s 5 bucks! Our way of saying thank you, now go drown your sorrows with some soju.
4:06 pm on October 19th, 2011 5
#3,
That’s just insulting. My answer would have been that I needed my two thumbs to wring their necks proper.
6:36 pm on October 19th, 2011 6
What percentage of disability is it when a combat arms dude on patrol loses a thumb versus some fobbit claiming ptsd to get a disability check for having metaphorical sand misplaced in ones bathing suit
9:58 pm on October 19th, 2011 7
The funk. This is one of those times some elements of the Korean government behaves stupidly indeed.
Hopefully someone opportunistic within (sadly, that’s probably going to be the case) is going to help Mrs. Kim win another case demanding compensation for the trauma delivered to her by the government’s grievous act of negligence and (albeit unintended) insult.