Day Laborer About to Marry and Retired Breadwinner Among Victims' Families
"We Are Told to Hold Funerals Without Knowing the Cause of the Accident"
The mourning hall for those who died in the fire accident at the new construction site of the Busan Banyan Tree Hotel has been set up at a funeral home in Haeundae-gu. The bereaved families are urging for clear identification of responsibility.
On the morning of the 14th, a fire broke out at the Banyan Tree Hotel construction site in Gijang-gun, Busan, with black smoke and flames rising. Photo by Busan Police Agency
On the 15th, Yonhap News reported that Mr. A, an uncle who lost his nephew in the Banyan Tree Hotel fire accident at a funeral home in Haeundae-gu, Busan, expressed his frustration, saying, "The primary contractor Samjeong did not enroll the daily workers in industrial accident insurance." On the day of the accident, Mr. A's nephew was working as a daily worker performing tasks such as welding at the site. Mr. A said, "I separately confirmed that the primary contractor is legally required to enroll daily workers in industrial accident insurance and pay the premiums," adding, "The families here are in shock due to the sudden accident and have no choice but to trust the company and proceed with the work, but if they show this kind of attitude, what are we supposed to do?" Furthermore, it was revealed that Mr. A's nephew was a prospective groom who had married in his foreign bride’s home country last December and was planning to hold a wedding ceremony in Korea once the international marriage administrative procedures were completed, adding to the sorrow.
Under the current Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Premium Collection Act, if an employer fails to report insurance enrollment, a fine of up to 3 million won may be imposed. Daily workers are also subject to enrollment. However, a representative from the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service explained, "Even if they are not enrolled in insurance, if the bereaved families apply for industrial accident benefits, they can receive appropriate compensation."
The daughter of worker Mr. B said, "My father retired from a public institution in Busan, but it seems he went to work without telling my mother and me to earn money," expressing her pain. She added, "According to my father's colleagues, he insisted on working all week long." Mr. B’s family also stated, "We want to know the cause of the accident, but no one is telling us, and the company is saying to settle after the funeral," emphasizing, "We are curious whether safety regulations were properly followed when working in a fire-prone environment, why only our family members could not escape, and whether the company pressured the workers due to the approaching construction deadline. The responsibility must be clearly identified."
Meanwhile, at around 10:51 a.m. the previous day, a fire broke out at the 'Banyan Tree Haeundae Busan' construction site near Orangdae Park in the Osiria Tourist Complex, Gijang-gun, Busan. Six people?two in their 40s, three in their 50s, and one in their 60s?were transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest but ultimately passed away. During a joint investigation conducted for about two hours starting at 10:30 a.m. that day, it was found that the fire initially started near the piping in the PT room on the first floor of Building B among Buildings A, B, and C. The police plan to conduct autopsies on the 17th and investigate the accident circumstances by questioning the construction company, site managers, and workers.
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