SPC Group Chairman Hyungin Heo and executives are offering a public apology on the 21st at the SPC headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul, regarding the recent employee death accident at the affiliate SPL. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] Eight days after a worker at SPL bakery factory, an affiliate of SPC Group, died on the job, another worker was injured at a different affiliate's factory. Despite Chairman Heo Young-in personally stepping forward to issue a public apology and promising to strengthen safety measures, SPC Group is struggling to contain its embarrassment as another industrial accident occurred just two days later.
According to the Seongnam Jungwon Police Station in Gyeonggi Province on the 23rd, at around 6:10 a.m., a worker in his 40s, Mr. A, was injured when his finger was caught and severed in a machine while moving bread boxes at the Shani bakery factory in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province.
The police are investigating the accident, understanding that Mr. A was trying to remove defective bread products from the conveyor belt when his finger got caught in the machine.
Mr. A was transported to the hospital and is reported to have undergone reattachment surgery. The police are investigating the circumstances of the accident, including whether safety protocols were properly followed, by questioning employees and others.
Shani is one of the affiliates of SPC Group.
Earlier, on the 15th, a worker in his 20s died in an entrapment accident while mixing bread sauce at the SPL bakery factory in Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Province.
Chairman Heo held a press conference on the 21st, apologizing and announcing a plan to invest 100 billion KRW over three years to reinforce the safety system to prevent recurrence. However, the accident occurring just two days later has rendered the apology and safety management promises ineffective.
Currently, boycott campaigns against SPC affiliates such as Paris Baguette, Baskin Robbins, Dunkin, and Samlip are underway both online and offline, and there are concerns that this accident may further fuel the boycott movement.
Civic groups are holding one-person protests in front of SPC brand stores, and the bereaved family of the injured worker has filed complaints with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the police, demanding a clear investigation into the accident.
On the 20th, President Yoon Suk-yeol personally ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the accident.
The police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor have completed a search and seizure at SPL and have begun a full-scale investigation, including analysis of the seized materials.
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