Women gets $4 for brother killed in Korean War

The South Korean government has been publicly embarrassed after offering a woman just over $4 for the death of her brother during the Korean War, saying they are bound by outdated law, Reuters reports.

The South Korean woman, 63, discovered only a few years ago her brother had been killed during the war when she was just two-years-old, ABC Sydney News reports. She was told of his death by a neighbor, who said the children’s mother suffered from dementia, ABC Sydney reports.

She then filed for compensation in Dec. 2008, The Korea Times reports.

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The woman was compensated by the government with the payment of 5,000 won, or $4.33, based on the law and old currency from the Korean War, NBC reports. Initially the government refused to provide compensation, ABC Sydney reports.

The presidential Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission has called the decision "incomprehensible" and urged the government to review it, Reuters reports.

"We hope that this case will lead to forming a system of adequately compensating the families of Korean War veterans who continue to live with deep pain," the commission said, according to Reuters.

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The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Defense Ministry said a new law was needed to pay more or adjust the sum to incorporate inflation and interest, Reuters reports.