Prosecution Appeals Acquittal of Former Korea Western Power President in 'Kim Yong-gyun Death' Case

Prosecution [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Korea Western Power officials who were acquitted in the case of the death of Kim Yong-gyun (then 24 years old) at the Korea Electric Power Corporation Taean Thermal Power Plant will receive a final judgment from the Supreme Court.

On the 10th, the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office announced that it had filed an appeal against all parts of the acquittal verdict after a resolution by the appellate review committee regarding the appellate court ruling that acquitted former Korea Western Power President Kim Byung-sook and others.

Earlier, the 2nd Criminal Appeals Division of the Daejeon District Court (Chief Judge Choi Hyung-chul) on the 9th acquitted former President Kim, who was charged with professional negligence resulting in death and violation of the Industrial Safety and Health Act, as in the first trial.

The court ruled, "Korea Western Power delegated the establishment of safety and health management plans and matters related to the improvement of the working environment to the Power Headquarters, and it had no duty of care to inspect the facilities and working environment within the Taean Power Headquarters."

It added, "To recognize a specific duty of care, it must be possible to perceive that the inspection work of on-site operators is dangerous, but it is difficult to see that they were aware of the risks of the operators' working methods."

Two employees of the Taean Power Headquarters, who had originally received one year imprisonment with two years probation and a fine of 7 million won, respectively, and the Korea Western Power corporation, which had been fined 10 million won, were also acquitted.

Kim Yong-gyun, a non-regular worker belonging to Korea Power Engineering Company, was found dead caught in a coal conveyor belt at Taean Thermal Power Plant at around 3:20 a.m. on December 11, 2018.