"Legal Violations and Fatal Accident, Causal Link Insufficient"
Gwangju-Jeonnam Labor Safety and Health Watch: "Exoneration"
The labor authorities, who investigated for 10 months the case of a worker who died from heatstroke while installing an air conditioner during a heatwave advisory, have decided not to press charges against company officials, sparking controversy.
According to the Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Office on June 30, the office recently referred officials from Samsung Electronics, the prime contractor, and representatives from subcontractors, who had been booked on suspicion of violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, to the prosecution with a recommendation not to indict.
The labor office, which began its investigation following a complaint from the bereaved family and continued for over 10 months, summoned and questioned those involved. However, it concluded that there was no direct causal relationship between their actions and the death of Yang Junhyeok.
Although some violations were found, such as failing to identify and improve hazardous risks as stipulated by the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, and in the evaluation of improvement measures by safety managers and supervisors, the office stated that "the causal relationship between the legal violations and the fatal accident is insufficient," and made its decision accordingly.
The Gwangju-Jeonnam Labor Safety and Health Watch, a local labor organization, plans to hold a press conference in protest of the labor office's decision at 11 a.m. on July 1 in front of the Gwangju Labor Office.
The Gwangju-Jeonnam Labor Safety and Health Watch stated, "We are appalled by the Gwangju Labor Office's decision, which effectively exonerated the company by claiming that sufficient water, shade, and rest were provided," and added, "We will condemn this decision to prevent a second heatwave-related death like that of Yang Junhyeok."
The incident occurred when Yang, a worker in his twenties, collapsed while installing an air conditioner at a middle school in Jangseong County, Jeonnam Province, on the afternoon of August 13 last year.
Yang, who was working with two colleagues at the time, showed symptoms of heatstroke such as vomiting and dizziness. He was transported to the hospital by fire authorities but died during treatment on the same day.
The bereaved family claimed that the accident occurred because company officials failed to provide appropriate emergency measures at the scene, including a delayed call to emergency services, despite a heatwave advisory being in effect. They filed a complaint against company officials for violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and other charges.
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