HL Mando Pyeongtaek Plant Raid Over Worker Death

On July 22, a 28‑year‑old subcontractor worker, Kim Seung‑mo, was killed after his upper body was caught in a metal‑processing machine at HL Mando’s plant in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. In response, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Gyeonggi Southern Police carried out simultaneous raids on the main HL Mando facility and the subcontractor’s headquarters on July 7. About 30‑31 officials seized computers, work plans, risk assessments and other safety‑related documents to examine compliance with the Industrial Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accident Punishment Act. The investigation will focus on whether basic safety measures such as lock‑out/tag‑out, safety signage and proper supervision were observed, and responsible parties will be summoned after the evidence is reviewed. The raid represents the ministry’s first use of forced investigation after pledging to act against repeated entrapment accidents in manufacturing.