“Injured While Evacuating, Yet the Company Responds Irresponsibly”
“Demand for Full Disclosure of the Incident and Measures to Prevent Recurrence”
The family of Mr. Jung (25), who was seriously injured while trying to escape from the Kumho Tire Gwangju factory fire, criticized the company's irresponsible response.
On the afternoon of the 22nd, a 20-year-old employee injured in the Kumho Tire Gwangju factory fire is lying in a hospital bed at a university hospital in Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News
According to Kumho Tire and other sources on the 22nd, Jung had been working in the factory's mixing unit, where he was involved in the process of kneading rubber for tires. He sustained severe injuries while evacuating to escape the smoke during the fire, and is currently receiving treatment at a university hospital in Gwangju.
He was found to have multiple fractures spanning the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral vertebrae, as well as spinal cord injuries and subdural hemorrhage. He has been diagnosed with paralysis of the lower body. The possibility of recovery is reported to be low.
Jung's family stated, "Since the accident, the company has neither offered a direct apology to the victim or the family, nor provided an explanation of the facts. Not a single factory manager has visited, and only the HR manager handled the industrial accident procedures."
They also demanded, "For an accident that has completely changed a life, the company must issue a responsible apology, disclose the circumstances of the incident, and present measures to prevent recurrence."
Jung was rescued after about 40 minutes of search by the 119 rescue team on the morning of the fire on May 17. In addition to Jung, two firefighters were also injured in the incident, bringing the total number of people seriously or moderately injured to three.
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