SPC Chairman Heo Young-in "Deeply Responsible... 100 Billion Won Invested in Company-wide Safety Management" (Comprehensive)

700 Billion Won for Safety Facility Expansion, 20 Billion Won Invested in Work Environment Improvement
100 Billion Won Invested in Industrial Safety Improvement for Accident Occurrence SPL
"Immediate 'Industrial Safety and Health Diagnosis' Conducted Through External Safety Diagnosis Experts"
"Close Communication with Labor Union... Creating a Culture that Respects Employees"

SPC Group Chairman Heo Young-in is making a public apology on the 21st at the SPC headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul, regarding the recent employee death accident that occurred at the affiliate SPL. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] SPC Group announced on the 21st that it will invest a total of 100 billion KRW over the next three years to strengthen company-wide safety management in relation to the incident where a woman in her 20s died during work at its affiliate’s Pyeongtaek bakery factory.

Chairman Heo Young-in stated at the ‘Public Apology and Recurrence Prevention Measures Announcement’ held at the headquarters in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, “We will strengthen safety management and establish a culture that respects and cares for employees.”

He added, “We deeply regret the accident and humbly accept the stern criticism and feedback from the public. In particular, we sincerely apologize for failing to first understand and consider the shock and sorrow of the employees who worked closely with the deceased.”

Hwang Jae-bok, SPC General President, said, “We once again apologize to the deceased and their bereaved family regarding the safety accident that occurred at SPL. We will devote all efforts to prevent such incidents from recurring by implementing safety accident prevention measures and improving safety management, and as a follow-up measure, we will invest a total of 100 billion KRW over the next three years to strengthen company-wide safety management.”

He continued, “We will immediately conduct an ‘Industrial Safety and Health Diagnosis’ for all group business sites through external safety inspection agencies designated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, such as the Korea Safety Technology Association and the Korea Industrial Safety Association.”

President Hwang also stated, “We will strengthen the safety of facilities, equipment, and work environments by investing 70 billion KRW for expanding safety facilities and automating equipment, and 20 billion KRW to improve employees’ work environments and foster a safety culture. In particular, SPL will focus on investing 10 billion KRW, equivalent to about 50% of its operating profit, in industrial safety improvements to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.”

Furthermore, he explained, “We will form a Safety Management Committee composed of external experts with professional expertise and on-site employees to guarantee independent activities related to industrial safety and health, and strengthen the execution, management, and supervision of safety and health measures. We will also expand dedicated personnel and reorganize related departments company-wide to enhance safety management capabilities in industrial safety and health, facility safety, and environmental safety.”

He emphasized the company’s commitment to actively improving working conditions for employees, saying, “We will closely communicate with labor unions to improve employees’ work environments and support their physical and mental health management so that employees can work in safer conditions.”

Earlier, at around 6:20 a.m. on the 15th, a female worker in her 20s died in an accident while mixing bread sauce at the SPL bakery factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

Although Chairman Heo visited the bereaved family to apologize the day after the accident and issued an official apology on the 17th, the company faced criticism for inadequate post-accident responses, such as covering the accident site with a tent and continuing to have employees work.

Meanwhile, on the 20th, the police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor conducted a search and seizure at the factory. The Ministry of Employment and Labor has booked SPL CEO Kang Dong-seok on charges of violating the Serious Accident Punishment Act and the Industrial Safety and Health Act, while the police have booked the factory manager on charges of professional negligence causing death and are investigating the case.

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