Hundreds of Galaxy Note 7 owners seeking compensation from Samsung in South Korea

It had to happen sooner or later, so the news that many Galaxy Note 7 owners have decided to file lawsuits against Samsung in South Korea isn't a surprise, especially that we've already reported about similar actions in the United States.

However, unlike some of the lawsuits in the United States that seek millions in punitive damages, Galaxy Note 7 owners in South Korea have a softer attitude towards the handset maker.

The Korean media reports that no less than 527 plaintiffs have decided to file a lawsuit against Samsung to compensate them for the costs to head to the company's stores and exchange their phones, but also for the hours they had to wait while transferring the data from the Galaxy Note 7 to a new smartphone.

Attorney Peter Young-Yeel Ko, the head of the law firm representing the plaintiffs, says that the lawsuit also seeks compensation from Samsung for the psychological harm from using a hazardous product like the Galaxy Note 7.



Each plaintiff is seeking 500,000 (about $440) compensation per person, but that's only the initial amount, so the sum might increase later. There's a catch though, as South Korean courts do not award punitive damages.

Samsung recently announced a new Galaxy Note 7 upgrade program in South Korea, where owners who decide to go for the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge now, will receive a 50% discount on the upcoming Galaxy S8 or Galaxy Note 8.