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Kia Motors production line. (Photo courtesy of Kia) |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Production has been partially suspended at Kia’s Gwangju Autoland plant following a fatal workplace accident involving an employee being caught in machinery. Kia has pledged to prevent similar incidents in the future.
According to Kia’s Gwangju Autoland on May 19, operations at Plant 3 were halted starting at 7 a.m. This measure follows the death of a worker in his 40s who was fatally caught in a vehicle transport machine on May 16.
Plant 3 typically produces around 400 one-ton trucks per day through processes including pressing and assembly. With operations halted, approximately 1,000 employees working at the plant have been instructed to stay home, raising the likelihood of production disruptions in the near term.
Kia’s Chief Safety Officer (CSO) Choi Joon-young issued a statement to employees emphasizing the company’s commitment to workplace safety: “All of us at Kia have been deeply reminded of the importance of on-site safety through this tragic incident,” he said. “Kia and Gwangju Autoland are fully cooperating with ongoing investigations by the police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and we are actively participating in on-site inspections.”
He added, “We will ensure every measure is taken to strengthen safety fundamentally, and will do everything in our power to prevent such tragic accidents in the future. We promise to thoroughly identify risk factors at our workplaces and aggressively pursue comprehensive improvements to eliminate all potential hazards.”
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
