By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Civic groups and residents in damaged areas from the nation's worst oil leak have demanded that the government and Samsung Heavy Industries quicken the process of compensation.
``Samsung should take `unlimited responsibility' for the accident,'' Yoon Sang-hoon, an official from the Green Korea United, said. ``But to avoid further delay in damage compensation, the government should first compensate residents in the damaged regions and get the money back from the company.''
The delay in compensation can further devastate the residents of Taean, Chungcheong Province and other damaged regions as they may have to deal with long civil suits to get compensation, he said.
Prosecutors Monday held both Samsung Heavy Industries and Hong Kong-registered Hebei Spirit Shipping accountable for the leak and indicted the two firms and their officials responsible for the accidents. But they failed to disclose how much the two companies share the responsibility, which will cause a long legal battle over damages and further delay in compensation for residents whose fisheries' business has been ruined.
The stalled compensation has left residents helpless. Three people have already committed suicide in frustration.
But even if some compensation is ready for residents, there are still many problems unsolved ― how much money will be given to whom and according to what criteria.
The amount of compensation will be far from enough for them to completely recover.
As the nation has no legal grounds for the imposition of punitive damages for the responsible party, the total amount of compensation for the catastrophe will end up being too small for the residents in the disaster-hit regions to get their lives back to normal.
Due to concerns over the insufficient compensation, some lawmakers plan to legislate a special law that allows the residents in the damaged areas to get full compensation.
Meanwhile, the initial emergency aid by the government has also been delayed over clashes between central and provincial governments.
On Dec. 28, the government offered 30 billion won in emergency aid to the residents but the regional government in South Chungcheong Province has not distributed the funds, citing it insufficient and demanding an additional 30 billion won.
As the criticism on the delay, the regional government has finally decided to disburse a total of 55.8 billion won, consisting of the 30 billion in government aid, its own reserve fund and donation by residents to residents of six cities and counties hit hardest by the accident.