CEO Park Soon-kwan Submits Absence Explanation
Environment and Labor Committee Unanimously Issues Accompaniment Order
Ahn Ho-young: "Must Express Apology to Bereaved Families and the Public"
On the 22nd, the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee resolved to issue a summons for Park Soon-gwan, CEO of the primary battery company Arisell, which caused 23 deaths in a factory fire.
During the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor's affiliated agencies held on the 22nd, the Environment and Labor Committee convened a plenary session and unanimously issued the summons for CEO Park. The committee ordered Park to appear at the audit venue by 1:30 PM on the 25th.
Chairman Ahn Ho-young of the Environment and Labor Committee explained the reason, stating, "I believe CEO Park has the obligation to clearly express his apology to the bereaved families and the public regarding the Arisell fire accident and to firmly declare his intention to make sincere efforts for future compensation and recovery."
CEO Park has been selected as a witness for the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor scheduled for the 25th. However, Park submitted a letter of absence stating, "I am currently detained at Suwon Detention Center on charges including violation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act related to the Arisell fire incident that occurred on June 24, and the first trial is underway starting with the preparatory hearing on October 21," and "The Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency is still conducting related investigations."
Park Soon-kwan, CEO of Arisel, is returning to the detention center at Suwon Nambu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province after attending a pre-trial detention hearing at Suwon District Court on August 28. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Regarding the ongoing police investigation, CEO Park also wrote in the letter, "I received news that Mr. A, a manager at Enexco, Arisell’s parent company, committed suicide at his home ahead of a detention warrant hearing," and "Since then, I have been suffering from severe psychological anxiety to the extent that normal life has become difficult."
Currently, CEO Park is detained at Suwon Detention Center and is on trial for charges including violation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
Jang Hyung-jin, an advisor at Youngpoong, who was selected as a witness for the comprehensive audit to investigate responsibility for illegal heavy metal emissions at the Seokpo Smelter in Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongbuk, has been confirmed not to have submitted a letter of absence.
Advisor Jang is expected to attend the Ministry of Environment’s comprehensive audit scheduled for the 24th.
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