Investigation into the Daejeon Industrial Fire
Police are currently investigating the cause of a devastating fire at Anjun Industrial in Daejeon, which resulted in 74 casualties. As part of their inquiry, five individuals, including the company’s CEO and safety management officials, have been charged with occupational negligence resulting in death and injury.
The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 7th that they have booked five company officials, including Son Ju-hwan, the CEO of Anjun Industrial, for charges related to occupational negligence. These individuals are under investigation for allegedly causing significant loss of life by neglecting their safety responsibilities within the factory.
The five individuals booked include three executives, such as the CEO, and two team leaders from the fire safety and safety sectors. The police have also conducted a search and seizure operation on the company responsible for the illegal construction of the “2.5-floor” multi-level rest area, which is believed to have contributed to the high number of casualties. During this operation, personal mobile phones and work-related documents of employees were seized and are currently being analyzed.
CEO Son has admitted to all charges, including the illegal expansion of the 2.5-floor rest area and the illegal operation of a sodium refining facility on the third floor. The expanded space should have been equipped with essential safety equipment like fire detectors, emergency lights, and fire hydrants, but these were not installed during the illegal construction. It is also reported that there were no emergency escape devices, such as lifelines, to evacuate to the ground during emergencies.
In connection with this incident, a total of 107 individuals, including company executives, employees, bereaved families, and Daedeok-gu public officials, have been investigated by the police. Out of these, 81 were current or former employees of Anjun Industrial, followed by 12 employees from cooperating companies and public officials, and 14 bereaved family members.
According to police investigations, the fire alarm initially sounded but quickly turned off. Employees testified that safety management was routinely neglected, stating, “The factory floor was so covered in oil that it was slippery,” and “Fire drills were conducted only superficially on paper.” Police have also identified a company official suspected of manually turning off the fire alarm at the time of the fire and are investigating the case.
They identified an individual who manipulated the fire alarm controller installed in the second-floor office of the main building during the fire. This employee claims, “I did not turn off the alarm; I operated a different button.” However, police verification suggests that the button the employee claimed to have operated does not exist, casting doubt on the credibility of the statement.
A police official stated, “The on-site investigation of the origin of the fire on the first floor has been postponed because the demolition required for the forensic examination has not yet commenced.” It is estimated that the factory’s multi-level structure was also present in the first-floor production line where the fire initially broke out. Police have obtained statements from employees indicating that flammable materials, such as cutting fluids, were stored in a multi-level space near the suspected origin of the fire. However, due to the factory’s collapse, they have been unable to enter and visually inspect the structure.
The Daejeon Employment and Labor Office is investigating CEO Son not only for violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act but also for alleged breaches of the Labor Standards Act. They are also looking into his use of abusive language and insults toward executives immediately after the fire disaster, as well as prior instances of workplace harassment and power abuse.
The labor office is conducting reference person investigations with current and former employees of Anjun Industrial to verify the facts. According to labor authorities, there were three reports related to “workplace harassment” at Anjun Industrial over the past five years. However, it has not been confirmed whether these three cases are directly related to CEO Son.
The fire occurred around 1:17 p.m. on the 20th of last month at Anjun Industrial in Munpyeong-dong, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon. The blaze resulted in 14 deaths and 60 injuries, causing a major loss of life.
On the same day, a joint memorial altar for the victims of the disaster was set up at Munpyeong Neighborhood Park in Munpyeong-dong, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon. The joint mourning, which began around 3 p.m., started with incense burning and flower offerings by Song Young-rok, a representative of the bereaved families. This was followed by flower offerings from other family members and moments of silence. As they offered flowers, some family members wept, crying, “How can I send off my son?” and “How can I live without you?”
Shortly afterward, CEO Son Ju-hwan of Anjun Industrial and company officials visited the joint memorial altar. Some bereaved family members blocked CEO Son, shouting, “Where do you think you are coming?” and “Go back!” In response, CEO Son knelt before the family members, bowed his head, and repeatedly apologized, saying, “I am sorry.” One family member vented their anger, shouting, “Bring my dead father back to life!”
CEO Son did not respond to media inquiries regarding whether he admitted to the charges.
Song Young-rok, a representative of the bereaved families, raised his voice, stating, “The bereaved families are going through an extremely difficult time,” and added, “Although CEO Son knelt down, there has been no individual communication with the families since the fire. Such actions do not feel sincere.”
월 5900원 멤버십, 신문 독자에게는 2900원, 조선멤버십
55000원 상당의 신문-잡지 8종 마음껏 보기, 조선멤버십
현금처럼 쓸 7000포인트 받아 알뜰한 쇼핑, 조선멤버십
