[2020 National Audit] "Sorry to My Daughter" Tears of the Father Affected by the Laboratory Explosion at Gyeongbuk National University

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] "Don't just say that the future of the country lies with the youth; please ensure that young people do not lose their dreams or have to risk their lives. (Im Deok-gi, father of the victim of the Kyungpook National University laboratory explosion accident)" "It is the responsibility of the government, society, and the National Assembly. It is a shameful and disgraceful matter. (Jeon Hye-sook, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker)"

On the afternoon of the 22nd, at the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee’s comprehensive audit, Im Deok-gi, the father of a graduate student victim of the Kyungpook National University chemical laboratory explosion accident, appeared as a witness, and Hong Won-hwa, the newly appointed president of Kyungpook National University, appeared as a witness.

With a trembling voice, Im struggled to speak, saying, "My daughter, in her beautiful and dream-filled twenties, is suffering with her body and mind broken, and I wondered if it was right for a father to come to the National Assembly and speak about this." He continued, "But every year, there are such laboratory accidents and more victims, and it feels like my words are just echoes in the void, like a dog barking. I feel sorry for my daughter, but I thought I must correct this, so I came."

The Kyungpook National University explosion accident occurred on December 27 last year in a first-floor laboratory of the Chemistry Building at Kyungpook National University, where three graduate students and one undergraduate student were handling chemical waste. One graduate student suffered third-degree burns over the entire body, and one undergraduate student sustained 20% burns.

Im said, "Currently, (my daughter) has been prevented from acute death," but added, "She endures severe physical and mental pain every day." In response to a question from lawmaker Jeon Hye-sook about the medical expenses incurred, he said, "By October 14, about 610 million KRW had been billed, about 400 million KRW spent, and about 200 million KRW remains unpaid," adding, "(Kyungpook National University) initially said the school would take responsibility and cover the medical expenses so she could focus solely on treatment. I believed that," trailing off. Kyungpook National University had notified that it could no longer cover the graduate student's medical expenses due to budget shortages in April but reversed the suspension following public criticism.

When asked by People Power Party lawmaker Heo Eun-ah whether he had received sufficient explanation about the cause of the accident and countermeasures, Im replied, "I have heard nothing. I have had no contact." Regarding the criticism that medical expenses were unpaid despite the university providing a payment guarantee, he said, "The university has given no explanation so far. No one has ever come to visit." He expressed frustration, saying, "The former president and the administration treat her as just an administrative number, a student ID to be processed."

That day, Im answered questions about his daughter's condition and the school's response with a voice choked with tears, often trailing off, and during this process, lawmakers including Jeon Hye-sook also showed tears or expressed deep sorrow. Im raised his voice, saying, "Please ensure that young people do not lose their dreams and do not have to risk their lives," adding, "No matter how much the world changes or how severe the COVID-19 crisis is, at home they are precious sons and daughters, so why outside, especially in the academic sanctuary of the university, are they treated as administrative subjects and just numbers 1, 2? I cannot understand this. Please recognize people as human beings."

Hong Won-hwa, the newly appointed president of Kyungpook National University, who appeared at the National Assembly audit for the first time since his inauguration the day before, bowed his head and said, "I am sorry. I will make sure this does not happen again," in response to criticism that the victim’s family had not received any official apology.

President Hong said, "I take this opportunity to offer my apologies. I will manage this as if it were my own child," and explained, "Although I have only been president for one day, I have made many efforts, such as increasing the insurance coverage that the president can pay to students from 100 million KRW to 300 million KRW at Kyungpook National University. We also collected donations from staff and students. We have prepared about 750 million KRW for medical expenses, including about 400 million KRW that was not yet spent." He added, "We will do what we can. However, for the subsequent matters (such as related law amendments and environmental improvements), we ask the state and government to work together."

Choi Ki-young, Minister of Science and ICT, also acknowledged the responsibility of related ministries and said, "We will make efforts" regarding the mandatory employment contracts for young scientists participating in national research and development projects and legal amendments to apply industrial accident insurance to student researchers. Earlier, lawmaker Jeon had proposed an amendment to the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act on the 6th to allow accidents in university laboratories to be covered by industrial accident insurance.