"Do We Have to Apologize Every Time an Industrial Accident Happens?"... Paralyzed Victim's Family Angered by Brazen Attitude

Locker Falls in Break Room Injuring 4 Cafeteria Workers, One Suffers 'Paralysis of Lower Body'
Victim's Husband: "My Wife Needs 24-Hour Care... Gyeonggi Office of Education Must Apologize and Compensate"
Ministry of Employment and Labor: "Employer Judged to Have Violated Industrial Safety and Health Act"

The scene at the time of the accident when a wardrobe attached to the wall fell down in the break room of a high school cafeteria in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. / Photo by Gyeonggi School Staff Union

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] A national petition demanding an official apology from the education authorities and compensation for damages has been posted in connection with an incident where a wardrobe fell in the break room for school meal workers at a high school in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, resulting in the paralysis of a kitchen assistant's lower body.

On the 15th, a petition was posted on the Blue House national petition board demanding an apology from Lee Jae-jeong, Superintendent of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, regarding the industrial accident that caused paralysis of the lower body due to the cafeteria accident.

The petitioner, Mr. A, identified himself as the husband of the staff member whose lower body was paralyzed due to the accident, stating, "Since my wife’s accident, there have been many things that made me very angry and furious. At first, the school did not provide an accurate explanation of the accident’s circumstances, nor did they apologize. Only after several media reports did the principal visit, but he could not say anything about the subsequent measures," he began.

Members of the Gyeonggi Branch of the National School Irregular Workers' Union held a press conference on the morning of the 15th at the National School Irregular Workers' Union in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, regarding the launch of a national petition following a work-related accident causing lower body paralysis to a school meal worker at a high school in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the petition, the accident occurred on June 7 at the break room for school meal workers at a high school in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province. While preparing meals, an upper wardrobe fell, injuring a total of four people. The most severely injured, Mr. A’s wife, Ms. B, suffered damage to her cervical vertebrae 5 and 6, resulting in paralysis of her lower body. Ms. B was then transferred to a university hospital and underwent two surgeries.

Mr. A explained the current situation, saying, "My wife has required a 24-hour caregiver for five months after surgery and is in a condition where she cannot properly move her entire body, including her lower body and even using chopsticks. She has to transfer hospitals once a month, and the caregiving costs, which are only partially covered by industrial accident insurance, exceed 3 million won per month. When trying to obtain industrial accident documents, they say 'bring the patient' and 'that is the rule,' making it difficult to even get a medical opinion letter."

He also criticized the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education for not presenting any measures related to the accident. He said, "So far, even after five months, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education has shown no official apology or even minimal consolation. Instead, they have taken a brazen attitude, saying, 'Does the superintendent have to apologize every time an industrial accident occurs?' They are evading responsibility by saying that treatment and compensation can only be decided after all treatments are completed and lawsuits are filed," he claimed.

Finally, Mr. A expressed, "I earnestly hope that my beloved wife can be discharged walking. If not, my heart will break from the lifelong pain she will endure."

On the 15th, a petition regarding a workplace accident that resulted in lower body paralysis due to an accident in the school cafeteria was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. Photo by Blue House National Petition Board capture

In this regard, on the same day, the Gyeonggi branch of the National School Irregular Workers' Union (Hakbi Union) held a press conference at the union’s main conference room in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, demanding an official apology from the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education and responsible compensation and reparations for the victim. They also urged the National Assembly to "rationally revise the current Serious Accident Punishment Act’s serious accident provisions to fit reality."

The Gyeonggi branch of the Hakbi Union stated, "According to the union’s verification after the accident, the heavy wooden wardrobe was supported only by short concrete screws, and there were no supports or 'ㄱ'-shaped wardrobe braces installed. This indicates not only poor construction by the contractor but also unavoidable responsibility of the school for facility management."

They added, "Since the accident, the Hakbi Union has used all possible means to resolve this case. However, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education has not taken any accident response measures such as apologies or compensation and has merely let time pass. The accident victim and spouse have suffered severe emotional wounds and are in an unbearable situation," they criticized.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has judged the incident as an industrial accident. According to a Yonhap News report on the same day, the Gyeonggi Employment and Labor Office plans to recommend prosecution this week, viewing that the employer violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which led to the incident.

A Ministry of Employment and Labor official told Yonhap News, "After the accident, on-site investigations confirmed that the wardrobe attached to the wall fell because the bolts were shallowly embedded. We see that the principal, as the employer, neglected safety measures."

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