CEO Apologises After Deadly Factory Fire in South Korea>

A massive fire at a lithium battery factory in Hwaseong, South Korea, has resulted in the death of 23 workers, including 17 Chinese nationals and one Laotian. The fire, which began on Monday at an Aricell plant, spread quickly due to thick smoke, likely causing workers to lose consciousness and succumb within seconds. Aricell CEO Park Soon-kwan apologized and stated that the company had adhered to all safety protocols. However, over half of the factory’s 103 workers were temporary employees. The incident has highlighted the risks faced by migrant workers in South Korea, who are more vulnerable to workplace accidents. Authorities, including the National Forensic Service and the fire department, are investigating the cause of the fire. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has called for urgent safety inspections across various industries. Aricell, established in 2020, has been operating at a loss and is majority-owned by S-Connect, which supplies battery parts to Samsung SDI. Shares of S-Connect fell sharply following news of the fire.