The incident involving Kim Chung-hyun, a subcontracted worker who died in June last year while working at the Taean Thermal Power Plant, has resulted in the police forwarding the cases of eight safety management officials from the primary contractor, Korea Western Power, and two subcontractors to prosecutors, concluding a nine-month investigation. The police reported that these individuals are being charged with professional negligence leading to death. The machinery involved lacked necessary safety features, which contributed to the tragic incident where Kim’s clothing became caught, resulting in his fatal injury. During the investigation, it was revealed that the safety shield on the lathe machine had been removed prior to the incident, and Kim was forced to work in a hazardous environment lacking proper equipment.

The police statement also pointed to significant failings in safety protocol and oversight, highlighting that an internal safety meeting prior to the accident warned of the absence of safety shields on subcontracted machines, but the issues were neglected for over a year. This negligence raises serious questions about the overall safety management practices within the contracting system, particularly regarding Kim's employment status as a contract worker within a precarious structure of subcontracting. The police indicated that the structure of subcontracting in the industry has led to job insecurity and was deemed a fundamental cause of the incident. The findings reflect broader concerns regarding labor safety and management responsibilities in hazardous working environments, with calls for systemic changes to prevent further tragedies in the future.