Daejeon Safety Industry CEO, Executives Barred From Leaving Country Amid Fire Investigation
Six executives from Daejeon Safety Industry, including CEO Son Joo-hwan, have been banned from leaving South Korea as police investigate the cause of a fire that resulted in 74 casualties, including 14 deaths. The investigation centers on potential delays in evacuation procedures during the incident.
Alarm System Concerns
According to police reports, initial testimonies suggest the factory alarm sounded at the time of the fire but was then immediately deactivated. This led to confusion among workers, who initially believed it was a routine malfunction and delayed their evacuation. Authorities are investigating whether the alarm was intentionally turned off or if a technical defect was responsible. Chosun Biz reports that CEO Son Joo-hwan publicly apologized at a memorial altar for the employees who died in the fire.
Investigation and Legal Action
The Daejeon Regional Employment and Labor Office is investigating Son Joo-hwan and other executives and employees for violations of the Serious Accident Punishment Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The Korea Herald details that labor authorities raided the company’s headquarters and factories on March 23rd, and CEO Sohn was questioned for approximately five hours.
Police have interviewed 53 individuals, including factory employees, as part of their investigation. While labor authorities have filed charges, police have not yet booked any individuals. A digital forensic analysis of 256 confiscated items, including computers and mobile phones, is currently underway.
Victim Support and Government Response
Funeral services for some of the victims began on March 25th. Twelve of the fourteen deceased have been identified, but funerals for the remaining two victims, whose bodies were severely damaged, have been delayed. As of yesterday, approximately 3,350 citizens had visited a joint memorial hall to pay their respects. Chosun Biz reports that the government has initiated an emergency response, with a three-week joint inspection of approximately 2,800 workplaces with fire risks, such as heat treatment and forging facilities, scheduled to commence next week.
the Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to conduct intensive inspections of 1,000 high-risk workplaces, including construction sites and manufacturers, to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Recent Developments
According to a report from YTN, common testimonies indicate that the alarm sounded and was then immediately turned off, contributing to the delayed evacuation. Oh Seung-hoon, a reporter for YTN’s Daejeon-Chungnam-Sejong Bureau, provided updates on the investigation.