![]() |
Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] On May 29, SPC Samlip issued an official notice on its website titled “Follow-Up Measures After the SPC Samlip Safety Incident,” signed by Co-CEOs Hwang Jong-hyun and Kim Beom-soo. The announcement comes in response to a fatal accident that occurred on May 19 at the company’s Siwha plant, where a female worker in her 50s was fatally injured after becoming trapped in a conveyor belt used for cooling baked goods.
Despite an earlier apology issued six hours after the incident by CEO Kim Beom-soo, the incident triggered public backlash, including growing calls for a boycott of SPC products and criticism from major political candidates ahead of the June 3rd general elections. In response, SPC Samlip has introduced additional measures to prevent recurrence.
As part of the follow-up actions, SPC Samlip announced that it will suspend production of its popular “KBO Bread” line beginning June 1. The equipment involved in the accident will be fully dismantled and discarded after ongoing investigations by the police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor are completed.
Additionally, the company will increase the frequency of joint safety inspections conducted with external experts from semi-annually to quarterly. At the Siwha plant, one day each week will now be designated for equipment inspections, during which production lines will be halted. Furthermore, SPC Samlip plans to pilot a four-shift, three-team work system (4-shift 3-team system) on select lines through labor-management consultations.
“We humbly accept the public’s criticism regarding the accident and are taking immediate action to ensure such an incident never happens again,” stated Co-CEOs Hwang and Kim.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)