Police Conduct Search and Seizure at Yeocheon NCC Factory Explosion Site and Partner Companies

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] The police, together with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, have launched a forced investigation into the explosion accident at the Yeocheon NCC factory in the Yeosu National Industrial Complex, which resulted in 8 casualties.

According to the Jeonnam Police Agency on the 14th, from 9 a.m. today, they have been conducting searches at the Yeocheon NCC 3rd factory site office and three other locations including Youngjin Technology.

The police are investigating compliance with on-site safety regulations and have requested the National Forensic Service to conduct autopsies from this morning to determine the causes of death of the 4 deceased.

The Gwangju Labor Office has also deployed 35 personnel, including labor inspectors responsible for investigating major industrial accidents and digital forensic labor inspectors, to secure evidence to prove violations of the Serious Accident Punishment Act and the Industrial Safety and Health Act by Yeocheon NCC officials.

These agencies plan to conduct a second detailed inspection at the accident site this afternoon.

At around 9:26 a.m. on the 11th, an explosion occurred at the Yeocheon NCC Yeosu Plant 3rd factory located in Hwachi-dong, Yeosu-si, Jeonnam, within the Yeosu Industrial Complex.

The accident resulted in 8 casualties among workers at the factory; 7 of them (3 deceased and 4 with minor injuries) belonged to subcontractors, and 1 deceased was an employee of the primary contractor, Yeocheon NCC.

The accident happened while subcontractor employees were conducting a 'heat exchanger tightness test' to verify performance before restarting, after cleaning the heat exchanger.

The police believe the explosion occurred while increasing internal pressure to check for air leaks and have booked the site manager on charges including professional negligence causing death.

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