Court Rules in Favor of Car Manufacturer in Fatal Accident Case

In a civil lawsuit concerning a suspected sudden acceleration incident that resulted in the tragic death of 12-year-old Lee Do-hyun (고 이도현) in Gangneung, South Korea, the court has sided with the vehicle manufacturer, KG Mobility. The court dismissed claims of vehicle defects, citing the possibility of driver error regarding pedal operation.
The ruling was announced on May 13, 2025, by the Chuncheon District Court's Gangneung branch, which rejected the 920 million won (approximately $770,000) damages claim filed by Lee's grandmother, A (68), and the family.
The incident occurred in December 2022 when A was driving a Tivoli Air vehicle, which subsequently fell into a drainage ditch, leading to the unfortunate death of her grandson, Lee.
The family argued that the accident was caused by a software defect in the electronic control unit (ECU) that led to sudden acceleration, and they claimed that the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system failed to activate to prevent the crash. Conversely, KG Mobility contended that the driver mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.
The court stated, "It seems highly likely that the plaintiff confused the accelerator with the brake pedal, making it difficult to recognize the accident as a result of an ECU defect." Following the verdict, Lee's family expressed their disappointment, stating, "Justice is still far away," and indicated their intention to appeal the decision.