Electric Safety Research Institute: "Component Polarity Mismatch Causes Fire in Winia Dimchae Kimchi Refrigerator"

"Confirmation of Tracking Phenomenon Due to Structural Defects in Motion Control Device"

An old kimchi refrigerator for which Winia Dimchae voluntarily collected and replaced parts. (Photo by Winia Dimchae)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Korea Electrical Safety Corporation's Electrical Safety Research Institute announced on the 3rd that it has identified the cause of the fire in the Winia Dimchae kimchi refrigerator in collaboration with the Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters.

Analysis of the relay component (power supply device for refrigerant injection) of this kimchi refrigerator, manufactured before September 2005, revealed that foreign substances formed between the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals, causing the fire.

The Electrical Safety Research Institute and Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters demonstrated the cause of the fire by repeatedly operating the device about 300,000 times.

From 2016 to August of this year, there have been 1,256 fire incidents involving kimchi refrigerators in South Korea. This means that on average, around 200 fires occurred annually.

In response, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's National Institute of Technology and Standards announced on the 2nd the implementation of voluntary product recalls. The manufacturer, Winia Dimchae, has carried out a full recall.