President Lee Visits SPC Factory After Fatal Accident, Calls for Safety Improvements

On July 25, President Lee Jae-myung visited the SPC Samlip factory in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, where a tragic industrial accident occurred in May, resulting in the death of a female worker in her 50s. During a meeting held in the factory's conference room, President Lee directly questioned SPC Group Chairman Huh Young-in and other executives about the circumstances surrounding the accident and the working conditions at the facility.

The fatal incident took place on May 19, when the worker became trapped in machinery. Attendees at the meeting included key industry figures such as Kim Beom-soo, CEO of SPC Samlip, and Kang Hee-seok, head of CJ Foodville's Voice factory, as well as Kim Young-hoon, Minister of Employment and Labor.

President Lee pressed for details, asking, "What time did the accident occur? Was the deceased working alone? Was there anyone nearby? What was the shift schedule?" He urged the executives to be honest, stating, "If you don’t know, just say you don’t know." When informed that workers at the factory typically work four days a week in 12-hour shifts, he expressed concern about the intensity of the labor, suggesting it could lead to fatigue and accidents.

"Working 12-hour shifts is exhausting and can lead to accidents; this is predictable," he stated, emphasizing the need for improvements. He speculated that the reason for the extended shifts might be low base wages, which could deter workers from accepting shorter shifts that would pay less. SPC representatives acknowledged that this could be a contributing factor.

Chairman Huh responded to the president's concerns by agreeing that there are many issues to consider and committed to gradually implementing improvements, although he noted that immediate solutions might be challenging.

President Lee highlighted the dual concerns of business leaders about economic stability and the safety of their workers, stating, "A worker earning 3 million won a month does not equate to their life being worth that amount." He expressed a desire to fundamentally change the reality in South Korea, where too many people are dying for various reasons.

In response, CEO Kim Beom-soo acknowledged the incident as a serious warning regarding SPC's purpose and vowed to take full responsibility, promising to overhaul safety management practices to prevent future accidents.

Reflecting on his own background as a former worker and a victim of industrial accidents, President Lee lamented the ongoing fatalities in the workforce, asserting that if safety and lives are being sacrificed for profit, significant changes are necessary. He also shared personal memories of the bakery industry, recalling a type of bread called "Conti-bread" and noting that the factory where his father worked has since closed. He remarked on the challenges faced by workers in the baking industry, stating, "Even back then, I thought it was a tough place to work."