Korean Companies Unite to 'Save LG Chem'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Soyeon] Korean companies operating in India have stepped up efforts to support LG Chem. It is reported that Korean companies in India have requested the local government and industry to lift the travel restrictions on the LG Chem gas leak accident response team.

According to the business community on the 21st, the Federation of Korean Associations in India (Korcham India) recently sent an official letter containing this request to the Indian Ministry of Commerce and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

In the letter, Korcham India pointed out, "The LG Chem response team, which arrived in India immediately after the accident, was stopped by local police when trying to leave at the end of last month and has been unable to return for more than three weeks."

The letter emphasized, "Other LG employees remain in India, and the factory is under government control, so the response team is no longer needed."

It added, "The restriction on the response team could send an unintended signal to the Korean business community," and requested, "Please help them return to Korea."

Korcham India is a private organization representing over 750 Korean companies in India.

Korcham India plans to soon meet with senior officials of Andhra Pradesh, who are blocking the departure, to explain the situation and seek cooperation.

LG Chem dispatched a response team on the 13th of last month after a styrene gas leak accident occurred on the 7th at LG Polymers, its Indian subsidiary.

The eight-member team, led by Noh Guk-rae, head of the Petrochemical Business Division, met with affected residents and government officials, wrapping up much of the accident response, and attempted to leave Visakhapatnam on the 26th of last month but was stopped by the state police.

Although all approvals from aviation authorities were obtained and there were no procedural issues with departure, the state police blocked their exit.

It is reported that the police and state government have not provided specific reasons for the travel restrictions.

In this regard, the Korean Embassy in India has also dispatched staff locally to contact the state government and is working to resolve the situation. Despite efforts including requests to federal government bodies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the state government remains firm in its stance.

Korean companies have generally built a relatively positive image in Indian society.

Korean products such as mobile phones, home appliances, and automobiles are recognized as high-quality premium goods, and Korean companies including LG have been active in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities.

It is also analyzed that the special relationship emphasized between President Moon Jae-in and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during summits contributed to Indians having a positive image of Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.