After Fire Disaster, "Bereaved Families or Whatever"... Safety Industry CEO's Abusive Remarks Spark Controversy

"Remarks Aimed at Identifying Media Informant" Revealed in Recordings

Controversy Over Shouting and Abusive Language in Front of Executives

Controversy has arisen following claims that Son Juhwan, CEO of Daejeon Safety Industry, made abusive remarks to company executives in the aftermath of the Daejeon Safety Industry fire disaster, which resulted in 74 casualties.

Son Joo-hwan, CEO of Safety Industrial in Daejeon, where a large fire caused 74 casualties, is leaving the Safety Industrial headquarters on the afternoon of the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News on the 24th, the Safety Industry branch of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions is currently verifying the circumstances and facts surrounding the allegations of CEO Son’s abusive language.

According to the union, on the day of the fire disaster, CEO Son reportedly raised his voice and made harsh remarks toward certain employees in response to media coverage of the incident. It is said that, in the presence of key company executives such as managing directors and vice presidents, he shouted while criticizing the company’s insufficient response to the fire and its overall management.

According to publicly released recordings and transcripts, CEO Son made remarks suggesting that the informant to the media should be identified, saying, “Hey, tell me who that person is meeting. The news says ‘the CEO is yelling at and talking to the juniors,’ but there’s no excuse given for that,” and “bereaved families or whatever,” using coarse language and inappropriate expressions that conveyed his displeasure.

It has also been reported that CEO Son made comments regarding certain victims who died in the fire, suggesting, “They died while inspecting the burning factory site until the end.” He further said, “The team leader, the section chief, and the leader died. At home, the mother died late while looking back, afraid that her child might die in the fire,” and specifically mentioned the real name of a victim, reportedly stating, “That person, in particular, played that role.”

Such remarks appear to have been made during the company’s internal response to the incident, following media reports that CEO Son had habitually shouted at and verbally abused employees in the past.

However, the union clarified that CEO Son had never directly made abusive remarks or shouted at the disaster victims, union members, or union officials.

A union representative stated, “The comments appear to have been made in a meeting attended by key executives and managers at headquarters,” adding, “We are working to determine the exact circumstances of the remarks.” The representative continued, “This is not respectful to the bereaved families,” and said, “We will make every effort to ensure proper compensation for the victims and strict punishment for those responsible.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.