'Pyeongtaek Bakery Factory Fatal Accident' Gang Dong-seok SPL CEO and 3 Others Face Trial

Kang Dong-seok, CEO of SPL, an SPC affiliate, has been indicted in connection with the death of a worker in his 20s who was caught in a sauce mixer (blender) at SPL's bakery factory in Pyeongtaek.

SPC Group Chairman Heo Young-in is making a public apology on the morning of October 21 last year at the SPC headquarters in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, regarding the fatal accident at the bakery factory of SPL, an SPC affiliate in Pyeongtaek.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 25th, the Criminal Division 2 of the Pyeongtaek Branch of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Yoon-jung) indicted CEO Kang without detention on charges of violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, the Industrial Safety and Health Act, and professional negligence causing death. Three others, including the factory manager, were indicted without detention on charges of professional negligence causing death, and SPL as a corporation was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the Industrial Safety and Health Act.

Earlier, CEO Kang was accused of violating obligations to secure safety and health, safety measures, and duties of care in relation to the accident on October 15 last year, where a worker in his 20s, Mr. A, died after being caught in a sauce mixer at the refrigerated sandwich line mixing room of SPL’s bakery factory in Pyeongtaek.

At the time, Mr. A was mixing ingredients such as mayonnaise and wasabi in a pentagonal-shaped mixer approximately 1 meter in width, length, and height, with a depth of about 50 to 60 cm. While working with his hand inside the machine, which was operating with the cover open, his hand got caught between the mixer’s rotating shaft and blades, causing the upper part of his body to be pulled inside, ultimately resulting in suffocation and death.

The prosecution found that during safety inspections by external agencies and the factory itself, it was repeatedly discovered that covers of mixers and similar machines were left open, posing risks of workers being caught or pinched. Despite being warned of these risks, CEO Kang and others failed to implement safety measures.

Since Kang assumed the position of CEO at SPL, there have been a total of 12 similar 'machine entrapment accidents' over the past three years, including two incidents in June and August last year.

Regarding SPC Chairman Heo Young-in, who was reported for violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, the prosecution dismissed charges stating, "Chairman Heo is not considered a management official who represents SPL’s business or exercises decision-making authority over safety and health matters."

A prosecution official said, "This is the first case of indictment under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act for a management official who failed to establish and implement comprehensive recurrence prevention measures to prevent repeated machine entrapment accidents. It was judged that not only failing to establish procedures but also failing to faithfully implement them constitutes a significant violation of duties that threatens worker safety."

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