South Korea Battery Plant Fire Kills 23

A fire at the Aricell lithium battery plant in Hwaseong, South Korea, in June resulted in 23 deaths and nine injuries due to rushed production and safety negligence, according to police investigations. Most victims were migrant workers, and the company was under pressure to fulfill a military contract after failing a quality inspection in April. Aricell ignored safety warnings, provided inadequate training, and employed unskilled temporary workers, leading to product defects and overheating batteries. The company’s CEO, Park Sun-gwan, initially claimed safety compliance but later apologized. Arrest warrants have been sought for several officials on charges including involuntary manslaughter and labor violations. The fire spread rapidly due to toxic smoke, leaving workers with little time to escape.