On the afternoon of the 29th of last month, around 6:10 PM, at a cafe in Seo-gu, Incheon, part-time worker Ms. Yoo (25, female) experienced an unexpected accident while carrying dishes for washing. The oven, which had been turned off, exploded with a “bang” sound as its tempered glass lid shattered, showering Ms. Yoo with glass shards. Fortunately, wearing a hat and mask prevented serious injuries. However, at the hospital, Ms. Yoo was diagnosed with minor scratches on her eye and was prescribed eye drops to remove tiny glass fragments. Ms. Yoo said, “Even today, I still feel a foreign body sensation in my left eye. The ophthalmologist said if the discomfort continues, I should visit a larger hospital.”
At around 6:10 PM on the 29th of last month, a cafe in Seo-gu, Incheon. The oven, which was completely turned off, suddenly exploded, leaving traces behind. [Image source=Provided by reader]
An accident occurred at a cafe in Seo-gu, Incheon, where the tempered glass lid of a turned-off oven exploded. However, the responsibility dispute has deepened as the cafe and the oven importer have presented differing interpretations. With both sides at an impasse, the cafe headquarters proposed replacing the oven importer as a solution, but the cafe staff continue to express fear due to the aftereffects of the accident.
The two parties disagree over whether the oven was subjected to an external impact. The oven importer stated to the cafe, “Technically, such an explosion cannot occur without an external impact. If the explosion was due to a defect in the oven, only the internal glass would break, not the external glass.” They claim the explosion was caused by an external impact when the dishes Ms. Yoo was carrying accidentally hit the oven.
However, the cafe side rejects this claim. Ms. Yoo emphasized that the dishes did not touch the oven, and even if they had, the explosion was not caused by the dishes. She said, “I am currently working part-time while preparing to change jobs, but I have five years of experience as a baker. I have hit the oven many times with much heavier iron trays, but nothing like this ever happened,” and added, “In baking, the oven often receives impacts, so this explanation doesn’t make sense.”
Recently, cases of tempered glass used in home appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and ovens spontaneously breaking have steadily increased. According to the Korea Consumer Agency’s tempered glass breakage hazard information (CISS) by year, there were 41 cases in 2017, 70 in 2018, 62 in 2019, 50 in 2020, and 40 in 2021, totaling 263 cases.
Tempered glass refers to glass that has undergone special heat treatment, making it more than ten times stronger than regular glass. However, even tempered glass can spontaneously break without any external impact, a phenomenon called “spontaneous breakage (自破).” This can occur when microscopic impurities enter the glass during heat treatment or when nickel sulfide, added to strengthen the glass, contracts and then expands again when heated. Samsung Electronics also conducted a free recall last year for certain models in response to such cases.
At around 6:10 PM on the 29th of last month, an oven that was turned off suddenly exploded at a cafe in Seo-gu, Incheon. [Image source: a cafe in Seo-gu, Incheon]
Although CCTV footage exists from the time of the oven explosion, the two sides disagree on whether the dishes Ms. Yoo was carrying touched the oven.
The cafe headquarters has begun the process of changing the oven supplier used by the brand. The head of the A cafe headquarters said, “We requested the oven importer to replace the entire oven because the store owner and part-time worker were anxious, but they refused, saying ‘There is no defect. However, since the headquarters requested it, we will at least replace the broken glass.’ We are currently delivering ovens from another brand to the store and proceeding with changing the oven supplier.”
The cafe owner, Ms. Ahn (43, female), also expressed dissatisfaction with the accident damage and the oven importer’s response. Ms. Ahn said, “All employees, including myself, are afraid to stand in front of the oven. One employee even expressed a desire to quit due to fear,” and added, “We are discussing having Ms. Yoo see a psychiatrist.” She continued, “When we demanded measures from the oven importer, they only said, ‘Normally it would be paid, but we will replace it free of charge this time,’ and ‘We are doing this for the future of the cafe franchise. Please be careful next time.’ Not only did they refuse to replace the oven, but they also verbally promised to take moral responsibility for Ms. Yoo’s medical expenses but have since been unresponsive.”
Ms. Yoo still experiences a rapid heartbeat and body stiffness whenever she approaches the oven but continues to work part-time to make a living. She said, “I have an important certification exam at the end of April, so it’s hard to find a new job immediately. But considering living expenses, I can’t just quit,” and added, “This accident has made me afraid of ovens, and I fear that my five years of baking experience might be wasted.” She also said, “I hope the oven importer takes moral responsibility and offers a sincere apology.”
Meanwhile, the oven importer declined to comment on questions related to the accident, stating, “We have nothing to say.”
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