Gwangsan District Council in Gwangju Urges Designation of Kumho Tire Site as Disaster and Employment Crisis Zone

Over 2,000 Damage Reports Filed
Urgent Need for Measures for Residents and Workers

On May 21, the Gwangsan District Council in Gwangju called on the government to declare the site of the Kumho Tire Gwangju plant fire a special disaster zone and to designate the area as an employment crisis zone.

Gwangsan District Council members in Gwangju held a press conference on the morning of the 21st, urging the designation of the Kumho Tire fire area as a special disaster zone and an employment crisis zone. Photo by Song Bohyun

On the morning of the same day, council members held a press conference in front of the district council, stating, "Two-thirds of Factory 2 at Kumho Tire were destroyed by fire, and more than 2,400 workers and approximately 66,000 nearby residents suffered direct or indirect damage." They added, "The government must step in to manage the aftermath and establish measures for employment stability."

The council emphasized, "It is expected to take at least one year for the plant to resume operations, putting the jobs of thousands of workers at risk." They stressed, "The government should promptly declare the area a special disaster zone and begin the process of designating it as an employment crisis zone."

In fact, within just one day after the fire, over 1,200 cases of resident damage were reported, and the cumulative total has now surpassed 2,000 cases. Notably, personal injuries such as headaches and respiratory illnesses account for half of all reported damages.

On the morning of the 21st, citizens are submitting damage reports at the resident damage investigation center due to the Kumho Tire fire. Photo by Song Bohyun

The council also pointed out, "As with the fire at the Hankook Tire Daejeon plant, there is a risk that this could lead to recommendations for voluntary retirement or restructuring." They added, "Concerns about job cuts at Kumho Tire are growing, so the government needs to take preemptive action."

The Gwangsan District Council strongly urged, "The government must immediately declare the area a special disaster zone to support residents, establish employment measures for workers, and implement response plans for health damage caused by toxic gases and dust."