Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon Apologizes to Coupang Victim's Family: "No External Pressure in Decision Not to Indict"

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon stated today (October 28) regarding the referral of allegations that Coupang covered up industrial accidents with a recommendation not to indict, "We investigated with our utmost effort, and there was absolutely no external pressure or anything of the sort."

His remarks were meant to emphasize that although authorities could not recommend indictment due to limitations in current laws and judicial precedents, the decision was unrelated to U.S. trade pressure, contrary to suspicions raised by some quarters.

Minister Kim emphasized this point during the second plenary session of the Presidential Committee on People's Life and Safety, held at the Blue House and presided over by President Lee Jae-myung, saying, "I am truly sorry that we could not deliver the outcome the bereaved family had hoped for."

Earlier in the meeting, Park Mi-sook, the mother of the late Jang Deok-jun, who died in an industrial accident at a Coupang fulfillment center, attended and voiced criticism that she could not accept the findings of the Ministry of Employment and Labor's investigation into the alleged cover-up.

"Even though clear evidence emerged, we find it utterly unbelievable that this case was closed with the conclusion that there was no cover-up of an industrial accident," Park said. "You said this was not influenced by the United States, but we cannot ignore this concern."

In response, Minister Kim explained, "There were limitations such as the statute of limitations having expired, and under existing law, established judicial precedents require that obstructive acts beyond merely failing to submit an industrial accident report must be confirmed, which is why legal charges could not be applied."

However, he added, "(The investigation is meaningful) in that the state has officially confirmed Chairman Kim Bom-suk's wrongful conduct."

He also stressed, "Furthermore, when a worker suffers hardship in the workplace, the basic duty of a chief executive is to commemorate them and promptly introduce measures to prevent recurrence, and obstructing such efforts was an extremely wrongful act."

During these remarks, Minister Kim appeared choked up, pausing and hesitating momentarily.

Meanwhile, regarding Aricell CEO Park Soon-kwan receiving a confirmed four-year prison sentence for violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act in connection with the 'Aricell fire disaster' that claimed 23 lives, Park condemned it as "an absurd, infuriating reality."

Addressing this issue as well, Minister Kim stated, "It could send the wrong message to companies that 'sentences can be reduced through settlements (with less money) than the cost of prevention,'" adding, "I will convey our opinion to the Supreme Court's Sentencing Commission."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.