South Korean court cuts jail time for battery CEO over deadly plant fire

South Korean court reduces prison sentence for Aricell CEO Park Soon-kwan from 15 to 9 years over deadly lithium battery factory fire that killed 23 workers. | Contesto: cronaca

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• South Korean court cuts jail time for battery CEO over deadly plant fire

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A South Korean appellate court has reduced the prison sentence of Aricell CEO Park Soon-kwan to nine years, overturning a 15-year term imposed last September for his role in a catastrophic lithium battery factory fire that killed 23 workers. The Seoul High Court ruled on Wednesday that while Park bore significant responsibility for prioritizing profit over worker safety, the original sentence was excessive given his lack of prior criminal record and partial cooperation with investigators. The June 2024 blaze at Aricell’s plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, ranks as one of South Korea’s deadliest industrial disasters. Most victims were temporary workers, many in their 20s and 30s, who were trapped when a series of lithium batteries ignited, releasing toxic fumes. Prosecutors had sought a 20-year term, arguing that Park knowingly ignored safety regulations, including failing to install proper fire suppression systems and conducting inadequate evacuation drills. The case has reignited public debate over labor protections in South Korea, particularly for non-regular workers who often face hazardous conditions without adequate safeguards. Labor unions and families of the victims condemned the sentence reduction, calling it a betrayal of justice. “This sends a message that corporate profits still trump human lives,” said a spokesperson for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. Park’s defense team argued that the fire was an unforeseeable accident caused by a rapid chemical chain reaction, not deliberate negligence. They also pointed out that the company had compensated victims’ families and cooperated with emergency responders. However, the court noted that Aricell had been warned multiple times about safety deficiencies in the months leading up to the disaster. The ruling comes amid broader scrutiny of South Korea’s industrial safety record. In 2022, the government passed the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, holding CEOs criminally liable for workplace fatalities. Yet critics say enforcement remains weak, with few executives serving significant prison time. The Aricell case was seen as a test of the law’s deterrent effect. Legal experts say the reduced...

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Categoria: cronaca