A former soldier, who was playing soccer during his military service and now receives medical treatment, has been recognized by the court as a merit-based compensation recipient. The Suwon District Court announced on the 1st that it had ruled in favor of a plaintiff, a former soldier, who had filed a lawsuit against the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the National Veterans' Affairs Committee, seeking confirmation of his status as a merit-based compensation recipient. According to the court, the plaintiff was enlisted in the Army in 2013 and was discharged in 2017. During his service, he was playing soccer when he slipped and fell, injuring his right knee. He received medical treatment for about 100 days and was diagnosed with a meniscal tear. After being discharged, the plaintiff applied for merit-based compensation, but was rejected by the National Veterans' Affairs Committee, citing that his injury was not a "direct and immediate" result of his military service. However, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, stating that his injury was closely related to his military service and that he should be recognized as a merit-based compensation recipient. The court said, "It is difficult to deny the proximate causal relationship between the plaintiff's injury and his military service, as the plaintiff was engaged in a sports game during his military service, which is a typical form of recreational activity for soldiers, and the injury occurred naturally during the game." The court added, "The plaintiff's injury was caused by an external factor during his military service, and it is reasonable to recognize him as a person who needs compensation for his sacrifice and injury during his military service." The plaintiff's lawyer welcomed the court's decision, saying, "This ruling is significant as it recognizes the plaintiff's status as a merit-based compensation recipient and provides him with a basis for receiving medical support and other benefits."
A court has ruled that the decision by the welfare authorities not to recognize an army reserve soldier who sustained injuries while playing soccer in the military as a beneficiary of welfare compensation is unlawful. Judge In-Cheol Kang of the Jeonju District Court announced this decision on the 16th.
The incident occurred in April 2023 when the soldier, identified as "G-seup," participated in a soccer match during a military sports event. He suffered injuries to his left leg and hip during the match, leading to a diagnosis of "medial collateral ligament injury," "joint and soft tissue damage," and subsequent medical treatment. Completed his service in October 2024, and continued to receive rehabilitation treatment after discharge.
However, in April 2025, the Jeonbuk Central Welfare Office denied his claim for welfare compensation and beneficiary status. The decision stated that the injury sustained during the soccer match did not meet the requirements as it was not directly related to his military duties or training. The court acknowledged that the injury was caused by external factors during the military sports event, but found that the connection between his military service and the injury was not substantial enough to qualify him as a beneficiary of compensation.
The court ruled that the welfare compensation denial for G-seup was unlawful and ordered its cancellation. However, they affirmed the welfare authority's decision to deny his recognition as a national hero, as his military service and the injury sustained during the soccer match did not meet the criteria for national hero status.
Written by urgent.news from Hankyoreh's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
