0
The mother of the late Kim Seung-mo, a young worker who died after being caught in machinery at auto parts maker HL Mando's Pyeongtaek plant in Gyeonggi Province, weeps during a memorial service held near the Blue House on August 21 in honor of the late temporary worker. / Yonhap News

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has launched a second round of search and seizure operations at HL Mando's headquarters and its Pyeongtaek plant in connection with an incident in July where a subcontractor worker died after being caught in machinery. Following a raid on the Pyeongtaek plant last month, the authorities have now expanded the scope of their investigation to the company's Pangyo headquarters.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 14th, the Pyeongtaek branch of the Gyeonggi Regional Employment and Labor Office conducted searches at HL Mando's headquarters in Pangyo, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, as well as its Pyeongtaek plant on the same day. This marks the second compulsory search since the initial raid on the Pyeongtaek facility on the 7th of last month, and the first time HL Mando's corporate headquarters was included in the search.

The Pyeongtaek branch deployed approximately 20 labor inspectors to seize computers and related evidentiary materials from personnel. Based on the secured materials, authorities plan to examine whether adequate safety measures were in place at the time to prevent caught-in accidents, and whether the chief executive officer established and implemented a safety and health management system as mandated by the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

The fatal accident occurred on July 22 at HL Mando's Pyeongtaek plant. The late Kim Seung-mo, 28, a subcontractor employee, was inspecting the interior of a malfunctioning parts-processing machine when his upper body became trapped between the machinery and a wall, leading to his death. Police and the labor ministry suspect the accident occurred when an HL Mando employee conducted a test run of the machine, unaware that Kim was inside, and are investigating the exact circumstances.

The Pyeongtaek branch formed a dedicated investigation team immediately following the incident to determine the cause and assign liability. The labor ministry stated that it will take stern action if violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act or the Serious Accidents Punishment Act are confirmed.

The Serious Accident Response Committee for the late Kim Seung-mo, composed of the bereaved family and labor and civic groups, set up a memorial altar at the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office. The group has continued a sit-in protest, demanding a meeting with Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon, a thorough investigation into the truth behind the accident, and measures to prevent any recurrence.

A labor ministry official stated, "We gravely recognize the seriousness of caught-in accidents that repeatedly occur across manufacturing sites," adding, "We plan to take stern measures if violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act or the Serious Accidents Punishment Act are identified."

                                                                                                         Kim Nam-hyung