Police to file damages suit for illegal rally over Sewol disaster

Police has decided to seek compensation from host organizations of rallies and their representatives for damage that they incurred due to illegal demonstrations during memorial rallies marking the first anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster, which took place on April 18 this year. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said on Tuesday that it estimates damages police incurred due to the national rallies for the Sewol disaster at 90 million won (78,800 U.S. dollars), and that it will file damages suit to seek compensation from three organizations including people’s coalition for countering the Sewol disaster, and five people including Park Rae-gun and Kim Hye-jin, co-chair of the steering committee under the people’s council for the Sewol disaster.

Police calculated that violence used by demonstrators at that time caused 78 million won (68,300 dollars) in damages, including destroyed barricades, police busses, and protective equipment for police. Police also plan to demand payment totaling 12 million won (10,500 dollars), or 300,000 won (263 dollars) per person, in alimony to 40 police officers who suffered injuries caused by protestors’ attacks.

Police also applied for arrest warrants for joint steering committee co-chairs Park Rae-gun and Kim Hye-jin on the charges of leading illegal memorial rallies (violation of the act on assembly and protest).

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