Prosecutors Indict Hyundai Heavy Industries CEO and Others Following Consecutive Worker Fatalities

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution has indicted 18 current and former executives of Hyundai Heavy Industries and subcontractor representatives without detention following a series of worker fatality accidents.

On the 14th, the Ulsan District Prosecutors' Office announced that they had sent these individuals to trial on charges including violation of safety duty and professional negligence resulting in death.

The Hyundai Heavy Industries CEO, partner company representatives, and safety managers are accused of failing to properly fulfill their safety management obligations from September 2019 to May 2020, leading to serious accidents at sites such as the Ulsan shipyard. They were also found to have violated safety duty obligations during a special inspection by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Among them, 16 were indicted without detention on the 7th, and the remaining 2 were referred to summary trials.

In March, the prosecution conducted a search and seizure at Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan headquarters and found evidence of their alleged offenses. At the Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan shipyard, around September 20, 2019, a crane accident at the petroleum storage tank assembly site caused a worker to suffer a severe head injury and die. Up until May of last year, five workers died due to accidents such as falls, crush injuries, and suffocation.

During this period, Hyundai Heavy Industries underwent four safety inspections by the Ministry of Labor, which uncovered 635 safety deficiencies (violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act).

A prosecution official stated, "In accordance with the recently strengthened sentencing guidelines for industrial safety and health crimes by the Supreme Court Sentencing Commission, the CEO has been indicted," adding, "In the future, heavy responsibilities permitted by law will be imposed in the event of serious accidents."