Multiple Hyundai Oilbank Executives Found Guilty in First Trial Over Wastewater Leak
"Neglect of Legal and Moral Responsibility... Company Must Present Measures Residents Can Accept"
Sung Iljong, Member of the National Assembly. /File photo
On the 27th, National Assembly Defense Committee Chairman Sung Iljong (People Power Party, Seosan-Taean, Chungnam) urged, "Hyundai Oilbank must reveal the truth about the wastewater discharge and establish environmental countermeasures," regarding the wastewater leak at the Daesan Petrochemical Complex.
This statement follows the conviction of several current and former Hyundai Oilbank executives and employees in the first trial on the 26th for charges related to the wastewater leak.
Previously, in January 2022, Hyundai Oilbank claimed to the Ministry of Environment that "wastewater was recycled and discharged according to legal standards, resulting in no environmental pollution or human/material damage." However, a prosecution investigation revealed additional charges of evaporating wastewater containing phenol into the atmosphere, leading to a trial.
The court stated, "It appears the crimes were committed systematically to reduce costs," and explained the guilty verdict by saying, "They meticulously committed the crimes by only suspending wastewater supply and providing clean water during inspections or crackdowns prompted by residents' odor complaints."
Chairman Sung said, "Since the incident first occurred in 2016, I have summoned company officials as witnesses to the National Assembly audit to uncover the truth and formed a regional development cooperation council to urge implementation of health measures for residents," adding, "However, Hyundai Oilbank has been busy evading responsibility, insisting that 'wastewater was not discharged illegally.'"
He continued, "This is an act of neglecting legal and moral responsibilities that is unacceptable for a large corporation," and demanded, "Although the judiciary's final decision remains, the company must now clearly reveal the facts and promptly present measures that residents can accept."
Meanwhile, on this day, the court sentenced all five current and former executives of Hyundai Oilbank and Hyundai OCI, except for two defendants who received suspended sentences or acquittals, to prison and ordered their immediate detention. The corporation HD Hyundai Oilbank was fined 50 million won under the joint penal provisions.
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