Particle.news
Download on the App Store

South Korea’s Leader Apologizes, Orders Tough Probe After Ulsan Plant Collapse

A joint probe now scrutinizes demolition practices, contractor roles, and safety management.

Overview

  • Authorities recovered the last missing worker on Nov. 14, confirming seven deaths from the Nov. 6 boiler tower collapse at the state-run Ulsan Thermal Power Plant.
  • President Lee Jae Myung pledged a swift, meticulous investigation and promised accountability regardless of rank, issuing a public apology for the loss of life.
  • Lee directed ministries to reassess safety protocols across industrial sites and to conduct comprehensive inspections of high‑risk workplaces during the winter season.
  • Investigators are forming a task force spanning the Labor Ministry, National Forensic Service, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, and police to examine the sequence of the tower‑weakening work on Unit 5.
  • Korea East‑West Power, HJ Shipbuilding & Construction, and subcontractor Korea KAKO face scrutiny, with executives from the operator and subcontractor issuing public apologies at the site.