SEOUL, South Korea – South Korean authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into SPC Samlip, a prominent confectionery company, following the death of a 50-year-old female worker at its Siheung bakery factory. The formal probe, initiated on June 17, 2025, with simultaneous search and seizure operations at the company's Seoul headquarters and the Siheung plant, comes 29 days after the fatal incident. This decisive action follows three prior rejections by the courts of requests for search warrants, with the fourth attempt finally granted on June 13.
The tragic accident occurred in the early hours of May 19 when the worker, identified as Ms. Yang, became entrapped in a spiral cooling conveyor while performing lubrication work. Reports indicate the machine was prone to frequent malfunctions due to its age, leading to manual lubrication. Investigators are also examining whether industrial-grade cutting oil, containing methylene chloride, was inappropriately used on the food production line, contradicting SPC Samlip's claim of using food-grade lubricant.
Authorities, including the Siheung Police Station and the Seongnam Regional Labor Office, have criminally charged SPC Samlip CEO Kim Bum-soo, the corporation, and several factory officials for alleged violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act, and potentially the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. This legislation, which holds top management accountable for workplace safety, expanded its scope in January 2024 to include businesses with five or more employees. SPC Samlip has apologized and pledged full cooperation, halting operations at the affected line and promising to enhance safety measures and conduct regular audits.
The Siheung fatality marks a troubling pattern of severe industrial accidents within SPC Group affiliates. In October 2022, a worker died at the Pyeongtaek SPL factory after being caught in a sauce mixer, leading to a suspended sentence for the former CEO and a corporate fine. Another worker also perished in August 2023 at the Seongnam Shany factory in a dough mixing machine accident. These recurring incidents underscore ongoing concerns about workplace safety practices across the conglomerate, prompting intensified scrutiny from both authorities and the public.
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