The bereaved family of a victim in the "Gangbuk motel drug murder" case has filed a civil damages lawsuit against the defendant, Kim So-young, 20.
Nam Eon-ho, an attorney at Law Firm Vincent representing the victim's family, submitted the damages claim to the Seoul Northern District Court on Sunday, according to legal sources.
The total damages outlined in the complaint amount to approximately 1.1 billion won ($808,000). The figure accounts for the bereaved family's emotional distress compensation and the inherited portion of the victim's damages. However, the family reportedly claimed approximately 31 million won in actual damages sought. The reduced amount reflects several considerations, including the family's status as crime victims, the difficulty of bearing high litigation costs, and Kim's apparent lack of financial means to pay. The family also filed a separate claim of 1 million won in damages against Kim's parents.
Kim was indicted and detained on June 10 on charges of handing drug-laced beverages to three men in their 20s between December 14 last year and February 9 this year, killing two of them and leaving one in a comatose state. Kim was also recently referred to prosecutors on additional charges of injuring three more victims by administering psychotropic drugs.
Kim's first trial is scheduled for July 9 at the Seoul Northern District Court. Ahead of the trial, Kim submitted a letter of remorse to the court on July 1.