Employee killed in accident at Hyundai Motor plant in Ulsan

An employee in his 30s working at a Hyundai Motor factory in Ulsan died Thursday afternoon in an industrial accident.

Hyundai Motor logo at the company's manufacturing plant in Ulsan [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

An employee in his 30s working at a Hyundai Motor factory in Ulsan died Thursday afternoon in an industrial accident.

The deceased was inspecting a heat treatment machine at an engine manufacturing facility in Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant when his head was caught in the machine.

The worker was immediately transported to hospital but pronounced dead shortly after.

The police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor are investigating possible safety violations.

As the Ulsan plant has over 50 employees, it is subject to the Serious Accident Punishment Act implemented last year.

Under the law, owners of companies, managers and corporations themselves can be charged if they fail to implement proper safety measures. Violators face at least a year in prison or 1 billion won ($789,000) in fines.

“We feel deeply sorry for the accident that happened at the Ulsan plant,” said Hyundai Motor in a release.

“We are conducting a thorough inspection on the cause of the accident and will do our best to come up with follow-up measures.”

Hyundai Motor’s labor union under the Korean Metal Workers’ Union issued a statement on Friday, vowing its own investigation.

“The union will look into whether there have been any violations of the law, or negligence on the company’s part, and will strongly demand those responsible be punished based on the results of the investigation,” said the union in the statement.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]