By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Prof. Lee Sang-mook of Seoul National University (SNU) Earth and Environmental Science department was embroiled in a 100 billion won ($100 million) damages suit filed by bereaved family members of his student, who died in a car accident Lee caused.
Lee is often known here as `Korean Stephen Hawking' for overcoming his disability and making academic achievement.
The accusers filed for the suit in a California state court claiming that Lee is responsible in causing the student's death, because he was the driver. In July 2006, Lee and his student had a car accident during a geological survey in Death Valley, CA. The student died and Lee was paralyzed from the neck down. However, Lee resumed lecturing in a wheelchair after six months of rehabilitation.
Besides Prof. Lee, other parties sued by the student's families are SNU, California Institute of Technology, automobile maker Ford and several other relevant organizations.
A legal advisor for the university said the school is looking into measures against the suit, but the school spokesman declined to talk further about it.
Prof. Lee recently published a book about his rehabilitation and vision. The profits from book sales goes to a foundation he established in the name of his dead pupil.