[2025 Audit] Opposition’s Woo Jaejun: "Aricell CEO Received a Harsher Sentence Than for Espionage"... Ruling Party Rebukes "Incomprehensible Analogy"

People Power Party Criticizes Aricell Prison Sentence at Labor Ministry Audit
Democratic Party: "Assemblyman Woo Must Retract His Statement and Apologize"

The ruling and opposition parties showed differing perspectives on the Serious Accidents Punishment Act during the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment, and Labor Committee audit on the 15th. Woo Jaejun, a member of the People Power Party, criticized the first trial verdict in the "Aricell disaster"-in which 23 workers died in a factory fire last June-saying that the sentence was harsher than for espionage charges. Lawmakers from the ruling party rebuked him, calling it "an inappropriate analogy."

Kim Younghoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, is attending the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment, Employment, and Labor Committee's audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor held on the 15th in Yeouido, Seoul, responding to members' inquiries. Photo by Yonhap News

During his inquiry, Assemblyman Woo stated, "The Lee Jaemyung administration continues to emphasize corporate responsibility for industrial accidents. The President has even said that 'repeated industrial accidents are tantamount to willful negligence,' and makes extremely strong statements."

Referring to the "Aricell disaster," he added, "Park Sunkwan, CEO of Aricell, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in the first trial-does this not amount to total ruin? While this was a truly tragic accident, it was a case of occupational negligence resulting in death, yet the sentence was higher than for espionage charges." In response, Kim Younghoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, countered by saying, "Twenty-three people lost their lives."

In response to Assemblyman Woo’s remarks, members of the Democratic Party of Korea called for him to retract his statement and apologize. Lee Yongwoo, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "If you include those who were seriously injured, there were 32 casualties in this incident. Comparing this unprecedented workplace disaster to an espionage case is simply incomprehensible." He continued, "A 15-year prison sentence is not a heavy penalty. To criticize the administration’s focus on punishing employers by comparing this case to espionage is excessive, especially since the court’s ruling was sternly worded."

Kang Deukgu, another Democratic Party lawmaker, addressed Assemblyman Woo, stating, "Regardless of progressive or conservative views, there are basic principles that our society must uphold." Kang emphasized, "Even principles and common sense seem to diverge like this. A sincere apology must first be offered to the 23 deceased and their bereaved families." Park Haecheol, also from the Democratic Party, expressed regret, saying, "That is a highly inappropriate analogy."

Assemblyman Woo responded, "I had no intention of belittling the pain of the bereaved families," but added, "Punishments for industrial accidents in our country have reached an excessive level, and this is causing negative side effects."