2 Million Won Granted for Sprained Ankle in Cinema

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Staff Reporter

If a moviegoer sprains his ankle while exiting a dark theater, are they entitled to compensation, and if so, how much?

A theater was told to pay 2 million won ($1,670) to a patron who hurt his ankle because the theater was too dim, a court said Monday.

The person, identified only as Lee, received a phone call while watching a movie in a multiplex theater and hurt his ankle while trying to find the exit so he could answer it, last year in Seoul.

However, there was no lighting in the stairwell and Lee fell down without being aware of the stairs on the way to emergency door. He sprained his ankle and sustained bruises, which cost him 400,000 won in medical treatment.

Lee demanded 10 million won in compensation from the movie theater, to cover the medical expenses and for damages.

He said the cinema did not have any lighting to ensure the safety and security of their patrons. "Even if there was no lighting, I wouldn't have been injured if there was a slope instead of stairs," Lee said in the complaint, claiming the theater was fully liable.

The insurance company covering the cinema suggested 500,000 won in compensation, partially holding the moviegoer accountable for the injury.

The company claimed that moviegoers are supposed to turn off their mobile phones and concentrate on the motion picture. "Lee did not switch off his cellular phone and the accident happened when he walked out to answer a call, so he is responsible for more than 50 percent of the accident," a representative of the company said. "The 500,000 won damages would be enough for half of the medical expenses and damages."

The mediation center of the Seoul Central District court arbitrated an award of 2 million won, ruling the movie theater more liable for the accident since it should have had a safe evacuation system in case of emergencies.

However, we asked Lee to concede as he was at fault for receiving a phone call during the movie," the center said.