Seoul: A Seoul court on Tuesday ruled in favor of the bereaved family of a late lieutenant colonel seeking compensation from the government over his death caused by rebelling forces during a military coup in 1979. Late Lt. Col. Kim Oh-rang was killed in a gunfight while defending his commander against mutineers during the coup led by then Maj. Gen. Chun Doo-hwan on December 12, 1979.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chun, who died in 2021, seized power in the 1979 coup and became president the next year. The Seoul Central District Court ordered the government to compensate the plaintiffs, including his sister and nine other family members, after they filed a lawsuit seeking 500 million won (US$360,000) in compensation.
Kim was the inspiration for actor Jung Hae-in's character in the historical drama film "12.12: The Day" released in 2023.