In a recent ruling by the Seoul Central District Court, the victim of the 'Busan roundhouse kick' incident, a 30-year-old woman, succeeded in her damages lawsuit against the state, alleging inadequate investigation by the police. The court ordered the state to pay her 15 million won out of her claim for 50 million won. The case revolves around a severe assault that occurred in May 2022, where a man violently attacked the victim with the intent to kill but was later found to have intentions of sexual assault as well, significantly altering the charges against him after further investigation.

Initially, the police charged the perpetrator with attempted murder but after DNA evidence revealed the aim of sexual assault, the charges were escalated to attempted murder with sexual violence, which led to a longer prison term in the appeals process. The victim subsequently filed a damages lawsuit claiming that the police failed to conduct a thorough initial investigation. During the trial, concerns were raised regarding the police's conduct and lack of procedures in place for investigating cases where victims have lost memory due to trauma.

The court criticized the police for their failure to act adequately despite strong indications of sexual violence during the investigation. It highlighted that the police only collected partial statements from the victim while neglecting to pursue additional evidence that could substantiate the complexities of the case. The lack of proper procedures and communication from the police faced scrutiny, and the ruling underscores the responsibilities of law enforcement to ensure victims receive the necessary protection and justice, potentially setting a precedent for similar cases in the future.