President Lee: "My Heart Breaks Over Ulsan Power Plant Tragedy... Strict Punishment for Those Responsible"

"Re-examine Workplace Safety Conditions from Scratch"
"Deep Regret as Person Responsible for Public Safety"... Orders Thorough Winter Safety Inspections

On November 16, President Lee Jaemyung expressed his deep regret as the last missing worker from the Ulsan Thermal Power Plant boiler tower collapse was found dead. He stated, "As the person with ultimate responsibility for the nation, I am truly sorry."

Yonhap News Agency

Through a post on Facebook that day, President Lee wrote, "Despite the desperate hopes of everyone in the country, all seven workers who had been buried have returned to their families as cold bodies. My heart is broken." He continued, "I pray for the souls of those who lost their lives and offer my deepest condolences to their bereaved families."

He also reiterated that work done to make a living should never become a path to death. President Lee emphasized, "I will ensure that such tragedies are never repeated," and added, "We must put an end to the tragedy of workplaces becoming sites of death."

He further pledged to clearly identify the cause of the accident and strictly punish those responsible. President Lee stated, "We will thoroughly investigate whether there were any shortcomings in on-site safety management or if reckless work was forced due to pressure to shorten the construction period," and added, "Through a thorough and swift investigation, we will clearly determine the cause of the accident and strictly punish those responsible, regardless of their rank or position."

Additionally, President Lee instructed relevant ministries to re-examine the safety conditions of all workplaces from scratch, and urged that safety inspections of hazardous worksites during the winter be carried out without the slightest negligence.