Detention warrants sought six months after Safety Industry disaster, but court rejects all six

Six months after a factory fire killed 14 workers and injured 60 in Daejeon, a court rejected detention warrants for the company’s chief executive and five other employees.

Daejeon District Court warrant judge Song Seon-yang rejected the warrant for Son Ju-hwan, the company’s representative director, who faces allegations including occupational negligence resulting in death or injury and violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. The court also rejected warrants for five employees accused of evidence destruction.

The judge said the suspects had stable residences and that there was no concern about flight or evidence destruction beyond what would be needed to exercise their defense rights. The six suspects underwent a detention hearing after prosecutors sought warrants earlier that day.

The case concerns a fire that broke out at 1:17 p.m. on March 20 at the company’s factory in Mungpyeong-dong, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon. Police said the fire alarm receiver inside the plant had been disabled before the blaze, depriving workers of crucial time to escape. Investigators also found that a rest facility on the factory’s second-and-a-half floor, where many victims died, had been illegally expanded without authorization.

Police and labor authorities further found that some employees had forged or altered documents to make it appear that legally required safety measures had been implemented before the fire. Investigators have not established whether Son personally ordered the alleged falsification. Those accused of destroying evidence reportedly told police they acted alone out of concern for the company and received no instructions from executives. Eight other people remain under investigation for alleged violations of fire facilities and construction laws, as well as evidence destruction. Police said the investigation is nearly complete and that they will soon disclose its findings.

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The investigation is currently almost complete, and we will disclose the investigation results soon.