Taean Power Plant Accident Committee: "Chungnam Provincial Council's Deceptive Attitude Increases Bereaved Families' Suffering"

"Most Council Members Smiled Brightly After Adopting the Resolution"
...Labor Party Calls It "Secondary Victimization"

Chungnam Provincial Council members are taking a commemorative photo after adopting the "Resolution to Prevent Outsourcing of Risks and Promote Industrial Accident Prevention for a Society Where People Do Not Die from Work" at the 1st plenary session of the 359th regular meeting on the 10th. /Chungnam Provincial Council

The Chungnam Provincial Council has adopted a "Resolution to Promote Industrial Accident Prevention" in connection with the death of Kim Chunghyun at the Taean Thermal Power Plant. However, controversy has arisen after it became known that some council members smiled while taking commemorative photos.

The Taean Thermal Power Plant Kim Chunghyun Irregular Worker Death Countermeasures Committee issued a statement on the 11th, saying, "Most of the council members in the photo taken after the resolution was adopted are smiling brightly, and one member even raised both arms in a celebratory gesture," adding, "We urge a public apology for this deceptive attitude, which has further aggravated the pain of the bereaved family and colleagues."

On the 10th, at the 1st plenary session of the 359th regular meeting, the Chungnam Provincial Council adopted the "Resolution to Prevent Outsourcing of Risks and Promote Industrial Accident Prevention for a Society Where People Do Not Die from Work," which was proposed by council member Ahn Jangheon (Asan 5, Democratic Party of Korea).

Through the resolution, the council pointed out that the death of irregular worker Kim Chunghyun at the Taean Thermal Power Plant on the 2nd revealed recurring structural problems, such as insufficient safety management and discriminatory safety measures.

However, controversy erupted as photos of some council members smiling and posing for commemorative photos immediately after the plenary session spread online.

The Chungnam Provincial Committee of the Democratic Labor Party also issued a statement on the same day, saying, "Considering the soul of a worker who died after being severely injured while working in harsh conditions, such expressions and actions are unacceptable," and emphasized, "Strictly speaking, this photo could even be considered a secondary offense."

The statement continued, "Even though it has been more than ten days since irregular worker Kim Chunghyun died, the Chungnam Provincial Council has not even paid its respects," adding, "What the council should do is to mourn and pay respects to the deceased worker and offer comfort to the bereaved family and surviving workers."

Meanwhile, Kim Chunghyun was an employee of Korea Power O&M, a subcontractor of KEPCO KPS, which was itself a primary maintenance subcontractor at Korea Western Power's Taean Thermal Power Plant. On the 2nd at around 2:30 p.m., Kim died in an accident at the KEPCO KPS Taean Thermal Power Plant Mechanical Workshop while performing cutting work on power generation equipment parts, after becoming caught in a machine.