Minister Kim Young-hoon Apologizes for Failure to Rescue Additional Survivors at Ulsan Thermal Power Plant

Kim Young-hoon, Minister of Employment and Labor and co-head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters, stated on November 9, "Seventy-five hours have passed since the collapse at the Ulsan Thermal Power Plant, but we have not been able to rescue any additional survivors. As the person responsible for managing the aftermath, I feel deeply sorry to the families and the public."

Speaking to reporters at the rear gate of the Ulsan Thermal Power Plant that day, Minister Kim explained, "There were multiple causes behind the accident, which has also made the rescue process very difficult. In particular, Units 4 and 6, located on either side of the collapsed Unit 5 boiler tower, are at risk of additional collapse, making it challenging to deploy large-scale equipment."

On the afternoon of the 9th, the fourth day since the collapse of the boiler tower at Ulsan Thermal Power Plant, Kim Young-hoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, held a briefing at the site. Among the seven people buried in the accident that occurred on the 6th, three bodies have been recovered. Two are presumed dead, and two remain missing and buried. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

He continued, "In order to ensure a safe and swift rescue, we have consulted with fire authorities and experts to find the most effective approach. Ultimately, we had no choice but to proceed with the rescue operation while eliminating risk factors, so we decided to dismantle Units 4 and 6." He added, "We are discussing and deliberating with experts on how blasting, dismantling, and rescue operations can be carried out simultaneously, and we will especially focus on preventing any further accidents during this process."

When asked by reporters about the specific blasting method, he replied, "Based on technical and structural assessments, dismantling Units 4 and 6 simultaneously appears to be the most effective option, but since there are still risk factors, we will continue to deliberate until the very end." Regarding the blasting schedule, he said, "We have not yet determined a specific date, and we will report to the public once we judge that all pre-safety measures have been completed."