[Reporter's Notebook] Kumho Tire Fire... Time to Take a Step Forward

Since the fire at the Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant, the region has undergone many changes. Unfortunately, negative consequences are much more apparent than positive ones.

More than 1,800 production workers at Kumho Tire have been unable to return to work for over a month. The factory remains at a standstill, and partner companies and nearby businesses are seeing their sales plummet as a result. This is a warning sign of a regional economic crisis that goes beyond an industrial accident. Kumho Tire has decided to implement paid leave for office workers as well, following the production staff. This is a desperate measure for survival.

The main issue is 'speed.' Restoration cannot begin until an inspection is completed, and employment issues cannot be resolved until restoration starts. Furthermore, the local business district cannot recover until employment is stabilized.

However, as of now, not a single step forward has been made since the accident.

Kumho Tire recently submitted a demolition plan, required for the inspection, to Gwangsan-gu and the Korea Infrastructure Safety and Technology Corporation. The company hoped for a swift approval. However, the plan was returned with a request for supplementary materials. Kumho Tire has announced it will make the necessary revisions and resubmit it to Gwangsan-gu as soon as possible.

There is a lingering sense of bitterness. Of course, procedures are necessary. Preparations for a fair and safe inspection are only natural. However, these procedures must not become a barrier that blocks local employment and livelihoods.

The voices from the field are clear. If the inspection is delayed, restoration will be postponed, and ultimately, jobs and livelihoods will be threatened. Most of the factory workers live in Gwangju, spend their income in Gwangju, and are the backbone of the city’s economic circulation.

Their return to work is not just about restarting the factory; it is about breathing life back into the regional economy.

At the 'Second Public-Private Task Force Meeting for Regional Economic Recovery' held on June 20, officials were unanimous: "The administration must pick up the pace." In the current situation, where even the on-site inspection for restoration has yet to begin, such calls sound hollow.

There is a saying: "The speed of administration is the thermometer of the regional economy." If it is too fast, it is dangerous; if it is too slow, it loses vitality. At this moment, what is needed is not 'delayed safety,' but 'responsible promptness.'

Of course, Kumho Tire is not free from responsibility. The company must take a proactive and sincere approach to handling the aftermath of the accident. Regaining the trust and support of the local community is also its responsibility.

It is worth remembering once again that the recovery of the regional economy cannot be achieved by the efforts of any single party alone.