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LG boss issues apology over fatal accidents

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By Kim Yoo-chul

LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo has issued a public apology for two fatal accidents that occurred in India and South Korea, and ordered the group's top management to make "thorough safety checks" at domestic and overseas manufacturing facilities operated by LG Group affiliates.

"I am expressing my deepest condolences and sincere apology over the fatal accidents in India and South Korea and those who were affected including the families. Also, I offer my heartfelt apology to a lot of people because of the incidents," Koo told senior group executives on the sidelines of a hurriedly arranged visit to LG Chem's catalyst plant in the southwestern city of Seosan.

LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo
LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo
Accompanied by LG Chem CEO Shin Hak-chul and other senior group executives, Koo used the group-owned helicopter to visit the plant following a fire there Tuesday that left one worker dead and two injured.

"LG's top management should be held accountable for the latest safety-oriented incidents. We have to go back to the basic idea that safety is the group's priority. Group management is urgently asked to prepare fundamental measures from scratch," the chairman told them using "a stronger tone," according to a statement issued by LG.

"I just want to clarify if a company doesn't comply with in-house risk assessment procedures or fails to manage risk factors relating to the safety of employees at its facilities, then that company will collapse. Chief executives should be well aware of the importance of managing facilities safely. Again, maintaining a safe environment at workplaces and facilities should be the top priority," Koo said.

At least 11 people died and hundreds were hospitalized with breathing and eye problems after gas leaked from an LG Chem-operated polymer manufacturing plant in Visakhapatnam, India. After the incident, LG Chem issued a public apology to the deceased and their family members vowing to fully cooperate with the Indian authorities' investigation into "the exact cause of the incident." LG Chem sent a senior executive and response team to India.

A few days after the Indian incident, one worker died at LG's domestic petrochemical plant. LG Chem later said the main cause of the fire here was "likely" to be the spontaneous ignition of powder at its Seosan plant stressing it was linking up with the local authorities to look into the matter.


Kim Yoo-chul yckim@koreatimes.co.kr


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