A South Korean appellate court has upheld a lower court's ruling requiring the South Korean government to compensate Nguyen Thi Thanh, a Vietnamese survivor of a massacre carried out by South Korean troops 57 years ago.

The Seoul Central District Court on Friday confirmed the original judgment ordering the South Korean government to pay 30 million won (approximately US$20,570) to Thanh, along with additional compensation for delays in payment.

Nguyen Thi Thanh, 64, initiated the lawsuit in 2020, seeking justice for the massacre in Phong Nhi Village, Dien An Ward, Dien Ban Town, Quang Nam Province, in central Vietnam. 

The massacre, conducted by South Korean troops in February 1968, claimed the lives of 74 villagers, including Thanh’s family members.

Thanh herself sustained injuries in the incident, making her one of the few survivors.

The Korea Times reports that Thanh's lawsuit held the South Korean government accountable for the atrocities committed by their military forces during the war in Vietnam. 

In February 2023, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in Thanh’s favor, ordering 30 million won in compensation.

The decision considered the nature of the legal violation, the plaintiff's age, the severity of the damages, the degree of human rights infringement, and compensation standards established in similar cases across various courts

According to Yonhap News Agency, the court acknowledged that soldiers from the 1st Company, 2nd Marine Brigade of the South Korean military, were responsible for the massacre in Phong Nhi on February 12, 1968.

Witnesses, including veterans of the war in Vietnam and others present during the massacre, testified during the trial, providing critical evidence that supported Thanh’s claims.

This appellate ruling marked the first time a South Korean court has acknowledged state liability for atrocities committed by its troops against Vietnamese civilians during the war in Vietnam.

Thanh expressed her appreciation for the appellate court's decision while urging greater attention to the plight of other victims of similar incidents.

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