The family of a 17-year-old girl who died in the Inhyeon-dong fire disaster but was denied victim status due to her part-time worker status is now eligible for compensation, as the National Rights Commission recommends revising relevant regulations.
The Inhyeon-dong fire disaster, which occurred on October 30, 1999, tragically claimed the lives of 57 individuals, including 52 students. One of the victims was 17-year-old Lee Ji-hye, who was working as a part-time waitress at the time of the fire. Despite her death, the regulations at that time excluded her family from compensation, as part-time workers were not considered eligible victims under the district's compensation law enacted shortly after the tragedy. The National Rights Commission of Korea recently reviewed the case and identified the need for regulatory improvements, stating that the local government should amend the ordinance to ensure that victims like Lee Ji-hye can receive compensation.
