Justice Served: CEO Sentenced to 15 Years Over Fatal Battery Plant Fire

A South Korean court has sentenced Park Soon-kwan, the CEO of a lithium battery manufacturer, to 15 years in prison following a tragic fire at the company’s Hwaseong plant that resulted in the deaths of 23 people, including 18 foreign workers. The court described the incident as an ”anticipated disaster”, pointing to safety negligence by Park and other executives. This is the longest sentence to be issued under South Korea’s industrial safety law, which allows severe penalties for corporate leaders whose actions lead to workplace fatalities.

The court’s decision came after prosecutors sought a 20-year sentence, demonstrating the seriousness of the situation, especially considering that the factory was unprepared for such emergencies. Investigations revealed that the plant lacked appropriate safety measures and did not adequately train employees for fire emergencies. The CEO dismissed claims of safety violations, although he later issued an apology for the incident.

During the fire, the facility housed roughly 35,000 lithium battery cells on its second floor. As lithium fires can be particularly hazardous when exposed to water, firefighters resorted to using dry sand to extinguish the flames, which took several hours to bring under control.

The outcome of this case has sparked discussions about worker safety in South Korea, a leading producer of lithium batteries utilized in many industries, including electric vehicles and electronics. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has acknowledged the need for stronger protections for workers and has vowed to enhance penalties for businesses involved in fatal accidents.