SEOUL, April 1 — The family of South Korean filmmaker Kim Chang-min is seething over what they call a “shocking miscarriage of justice” after the director died following an assault at a restaurant last October.

Five months on, they say the suspects remain free, and authorities have failed to take adequate action, leaving the bereaved family outraged and demanding accountability, Korea JoongAng Daily reported yesterday.

Kim, 40, collapsed at a 24-hour eatery in Guri in the early hours of October 20, 2025 and later died of a cerebral hemorrhage at a hospital on November 7.

“Kim visited the 24-hour restaurant on the day of the incident because his son, who has autistic traits, suddenly wanted to eat pork cutlets,” a family member whose name was not reported told the Korean news outlet.

“During the meal, an argument and physical altercation broke out with customers sitting at another table due to issues such as noise, and Kim was struck by a fist and fell to the floor. He was transferred to a nearby hospital about an hour later but eventually died,” the same family member added.

Following his death, Kim’s organs were donated, saving four lives.

The family claims he was attacked by other diners, yet arrest warrants for the suspects were rejected by a district court.

According to the news report, local police had initially sought a warrant against the main suspect on charges of causing serious bodily injury, but prosecutors asked for further investigation instead.

After more inquiries and at the family’s request, police later applied for warrants for two suspects over fatal injury charges.

The Uijeongbu court denied the request, citing that the suspects had stable residences and were unlikely to tamper with evidence.

The case was handed to prosecutors last week without anyone being detained.

Kim’s family expressed frustration that five months have passed and the suspects are still free.

“From the initial response to the handling of the suspects, everything has been insufficient,” the family was quoted as saying.

Kim made his debut in 2016 with Someone’s Daughter and went on to direct socially conscious films including Guui Station Exit No. 3.

He was named Best Director at the 2016 Police Human Rights Film Festival.