Chung Do-won, President of Samyang Group, was acquitted of charges related to the deaths of three workers in a quarry accident, leading to criticism that the court's ruling undermines accountability under the Serious Accident Punishment Act.
Chung Do-won, the chairman of Samyang Group, was acquitted by the Uijeongbu District Court of Korea in a case linked to the deaths of three workers during a quarry accident in January 2022. This ruling marks a significant point in the application of Korea's Serious Accident Punishment Act, which was enacted to hold executives accountable for workplace safety violations. The case gained attention as it was the first prosecution under this law against a company’s top leader, yet the court ruled that Chung was not the 'manager' responsible for ensuring safety, thereby directing penalties only towards on-site personnel. This decision has sparked outrage among labor rights advocates.
