'3 Injured or Killed' Samsung Electronics CO₂ Leak Accident Responsible 'Guilty'... Corporation Also Fined

Verdict After 5 Years and 5 Months Since Accident
9 of 13 Defendants Found Guilty
Samsung Electronics Corporation Fined 5 Million Won

Nine individuals, including Samsung Electronics and subcontractor employees, who were prosecuted for the carbon dioxide (CO₂) leak accident at Samsung Electronics Giheung Plant in 2018 that resulted in three casualties, were sentenced to suspended prison terms and other penalties. This comes 5 years and 5 months after the accident occurred, and 4 years and 2 months since the defendants were indicted.

On the 16th, Judge Lee Yong-woo of Suwon District Court Criminal Division 6 sentenced two Samsung Electronics employees charged with professional negligence resulting in death to 8 months in prison with a 2-year suspension and 6 months in detention with a 1-year suspension, respectively. Two other employees were fined between 3 million and 5 million won, while the remaining three were acquitted. Samsung Electronics as a corporation was also fined 5 million won.

Samsung Electronics Building, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Among six subcontractor employees from Company A who were also prosecuted for professional negligence resulting in death, five were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 6 months with a 1-year suspension to 10 months with a 2-year suspension. One was acquitted. Out of the total 13 defendants prosecuted, nine were found guilty on this day.

The judge stated, "The professional negligence of Samsung Electronics and its partner companies combined to cause a serious outcome," adding, "The negligence ratio between both parties was considered equal, and the sentences were determined based on the degree of involvement and positions of the defendants in this case." He also noted, "Most of the defendants have no prior criminal records, and settlements were reached with the victims' bereaved families or relatives."

On September 4, 2018, at the underground first floor of Line 6-3 at Samsung Electronics Giheung Plant in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, a fire suppression carbon dioxide leak occurred during the replacement of outdated automatic fire detection equipment. This accident resulted in the deaths of two subcontractor employees and serious injury to one person.

The judge found that Samsung Electronics only conducted formal inspections of the related facilities without performing substantial safety checks, which was deemed a violation of the duty of care in the workplace.

However, some Samsung Electronics employees were acquitted as there was no evidence that they were granted authority to direct or supervise Company A subcontractors or that they gave specific instructions or supervision over individual workers' tasks.

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