Rome pivots to Seoul as lunar race demands global alliance SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - Italy and South Korea are formalizing a strategic aerospace corridor as the technical and economic pressures of the second lunar age render national isolation obsolete. During the 2026 Italian Space Day in the South Korean capital on Wednesday, Teodoro Valente, the president of the Italian Space Agency, told a delegation of industry leaders that the era of the solo spacefaring nation has ended. As the global community readies for a permanent human presence on the lunar surface, the alignment between industrial powers Italy and South Korea signals a shift away from regional competition toward a system of integrated diplomatic and scientific risk. The gathering at the Residence of Italy commemorated the sixty-second anniversary of the 1964 San Marco satellite launch, a milestone that established Italy as the third nation to reach space. However, the proceedings on April 22 suggested that historical prestige is now secondary to the immediate necessity of shared supply chains and a common defensive posture. Diplomatic momentum drives industrial ties Ambassador Emilia Gatto framed the event as a pivot point in a high-stakes year for bilateral relations. Gatto noted that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Seoul in January, and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled to visit Italy in June. Gatto characterized the current environment as a very good time for the relations between Italy and South Korea. "Welcome in your house," Gatto told the assembly. "It is not mine. It's just for you all to meet." The ambassador's remarks set the stage for an all-day program involving leadership from the Korea Aerospace Administration, or KASA, and the Italian Space Agency, known as ASI. Strategic alignment in the New Space era The industrial roadmap is anchored by the institutional synchronization between KASA and ASI. Valente characterized the creation of the South Korean agency as a unique opportunity to build a structured and long-term partnership. This alignment follows a 2023 memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed during the state visit of President Sergio Mattarella. Valente revealed that the Italian Space Agency is planning a dedicated industrial mission to South Korea between the end of 2026 and early 2027 to bring together large system integrators with small and medium enterprises. The mission aims to move the relationship beyond a traditional client-supplier model toward a harmonized system. "Space remains to us the greatest achievement never reached alone, and this is not only for economic reasons," Valente said. "International cooperation and space diplomacy are not simply an added value. They are essential." Technical collaboration and the human frontier The afternoon focused on bridging specific technical capabilities between the two nations. Following introductory remarks from CEOs Giampiero Di Paolo from Thales Alenia Space Italia and Jay Kim from South Korea's Boryung, an international collaboration session brought together institutional and academic leaders. These discussions featured policy director Kim Eun-jeong from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and Sean Yim from Hanwha Systems, alongside researchers from KAIST, Seoul National University, and the University of Padova. A keynote by Colonel Walter Villadei, an astronaut and Italian Air Force officer, moved the conversation from industrial logistics to the existential requirements of the human species. Villadei highlighted the transition of space from a scientific frontier to a daily human environment, emphasizing that the focus has shifted toward building the infrastructure required for humanity to inhabit the lunar surface permanently. "Space is no longer science fiction," Villadei said. "It is not something belonging just to a few lucky people flying to space. It is now this kind of daily environment from which all of us already depend very much for our Earth applications, but it is our future. So we are expanding and to make our human species able to live permanently in space, both in LEO (low-Earth-orbit) and on the Moon." 2026-04-22 18:10:09

Kia to Start EV3 Production in Mexico in June to Ease U.S. Tariff Impact Kia is expected to begin full-scale production of its small electric SUV, the EV3, at its Mexico plant as early as June as it seeks to reduce the burden of U.S. tariffs, industry sources said. The company is expected to start with a limited allocation to support launches in North and Central America in the second half of the year, with the possibility of gradually increasing local output. According to the auto industry on Tuesday, Kia plans to ramp up EV3 production in Mexico as early as June. The company is reported to have shared the plan in its annual business roadmap presented at a labor-management production briefing last month. The EV3, launched in July 2024, has been popular in South Korea and Europe. It is considered one of the most accessible models in Kia’s EV lineup, offering advanced features at a competitive price point. Data from the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association showed the EV3 sold 21,254 units in South Korea last year, ranking second among passenger EVs. In Europe, about 65,200 units were sold last year, placing it ninth in the region’s EV market. Kia’s push to strengthen local production comes as U.S. tariff costs rise. Since April last year, the United States has imposed a 15% tariff on imported vehicles, increasing cost pressure. As a result, Hyundai Motor Group’s tariff costs for the first quarter this year alone are estimated at about 2 trillion won. With the EV3 set for its first entry into the U.S. market, Kia is moving to cut tariff exposure through production closer to the market. Kia plans to launch the “The all-new 2027 Kia EV3” in the United States in five trims in the second half of this year. It will offer two battery options: a long-range model with an 81.4-kWh battery and a standard model with a 58.3-kWh battery. Labor opposition to shifting production is a key hurdle. Until now, all EV3 units have been built at Kia’s Gwangmyeong plant in South Korea. The decision would make the EV3 a dual-production model, built both at home and overseas. It would also be the first EV produced at Kia’s Mexico plant, which has previously made only internal-combustion models such as the K3 and K4. Kia’s labor union is opposing the shift, citing concerns including job security. A union official said, “The company is pushing it through unilaterally.” The initial volume to be moved to Mexico is said to be relatively small at 10,000 units, but as U.S. sales grow, further expansion of local production would be a natural next step. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 18:07:59

Questions Raised Over Hankook & Company Shareholder Group’s Motives Questions are growing over the "Hankook & Company Shareholders Alliance," which some critics say was used as a public-relations tool by the company’s second-largest shareholder at the firm’s annual meeting. The group, formed in the name of protecting minority shareholders, is now facing allegations that it has been used to advance a legal network tied to the owner family. Industry watchers warn that if a voluntary minority-shareholder group is diverted to serve a particular faction’s interests, it could lead to unintended harm for ordinary investors. According to the industry on April 22, attorney Kim Hak-yu, who led the alliance’s activities, was recently listed as legal counsel in a Supreme Court appeal in an ongoing lawsuit between Honorary Chairman Cho Yang-rae and his second daughter, Cho Hee-won, over the return of unjust enrichment. The case is being handled by Shinwon Law Firm, where Kim works, with the firm serving as counsel and Kim participating on the legal team. The appeal stems from events that began in 2019, when Cho gifted Hankook Tire shares to Cho Hee-won and paid the gift tax on her behalf. After a tax tribunal canceled the gift-tax assessment, the tax authority refunded 33.3 billion won in gift tax to Cho Hee-won rather than to Cho, who had paid it. Cho then filed a lawsuit seeking the return of unjust enrichment, won in the first and second trials, and the case is now in the Supreme Court. Kim is also the legal representative for the Hankook & Company minority-shareholder alliance. In 2025, he recruited shareholders through an open KakaoTalk chat room, saying he would "improve Hankook & Company’s outdated governance structure and maximize shareholder value." Critics, however, have described the group’s activities as one-sided. They say the alliance focused less on proposing broader governance reforms and more on repeatedly attacking Chairman Cho Hyun-beom, the controlling shareholder, over his high compensation and calls for him to step down. Separately, it later became known that Cho Hyun-sik, a former Hankook & Company adviser who previously fought a stake battle, was involved in the alliance, prompting claims that the group has shifted into a tool to pressure management. An industry official said minority and majority shareholders have "completely different" interests, and doubts grew after the name of a major shareholder — Cho Hyun-sik, who holds an 18.93% stake — appeared on a list of minority shareholders. The official said investors should cross-check not slogans about "protecting minority shareholders" but who is acting, what interests they have, and where the effort is headed. 2026-04-22 18:06:35

SK, Doosan Join Korea Business Delegation as President Lee Begins Vietnam Visit President Lee Jae-myung, fresh from a state visit to India, has arrived in Vietnam, his second stop, as business leaders converge to carry out an economic delegation schedule. The push reflects an effort to expand business in Vietnam — seen alongside India and Brazil as a key “Global South” market — and to hedge against global uncertainty. Large-scale investment announcements are expected again at the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum on the 23rd. According to the business community on the 22nd, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, HD Hyundai Group Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun and Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon moved on to Vietnam after completing the India delegation program. The Vietnam leg is being led by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also heads the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Chey and Doosan Enerbility Chairman Park Ji-won, among other senior executives, boarded a flight to Vietnam that day. Financial leaders are also joining Lee’s state-visit schedule, led by Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eok-won. They include KB Kookmin Bank CEO Lee Hwan-ju, Shinhan Bank CEO Jeong Sang-hyeok, Hana Bank CEO Lee Ho-seong, Woori Bank CEO Jeong Jin-wan and NH Nonghyup Bank CEO Kang Tae-young. Vietnam is South Korea’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States. Last year, total Korea-Vietnam trade included $62.8 billion in exports and $31.8 billion in imports. Overall trade expanded from $86.8 billion in 2024 to $94.6 billion. Korea’s four major conglomerates have built major production bases in Vietnam. Samsung Electronics operates six manufacturing plants and one research and development center nationwide and produces more than 50% of its smartphones there. SK Group has been expanding local energy infrastructure projects, including power plants and liquefied natural gas terminals. Hyundai Motor has been strengthening production and sales through its local joint venture (HTMV), and ranked No. 1 in local sales in both 2023 and 2024, beating Toyota. LG Electronics is developing Vietnam as a key production hub for its automotive components business, while affiliates LG Innotek and LG Display also run major production sites in the country. For Vietnam, South Korea is a key economic partner. Vietnam’s business outlet VN Economy reported that South Korea is Vietnam’s largest foreign investor, with cumulative registered investment estimated at 126 trillion won to 133 trillion won. Vietnam’s ambassador to South Korea, Vu Ho, said the core agenda of Lee’s trip and the business delegation is shifting bilateral cooperation from capital- and labor-dependent industries to advanced sectors such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. He said that could help meet the two countries’ goal of $150 billion in trade by 2030. Attention is now focused on the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum on the 23rd. The event is expected to feature announcements on strategic cooperation and private-sector memorandums of understanding covering not only advanced technologies such as semiconductors, but also nuclear power, high-speed rail and large-scale new-city infrastructure. A business official said Vietnam is a key country with the capacity to fill gaps left by China in both production and market terms, adding that, as in India, Korean companies are likely to announce investments worth several trillion won. 2026-04-22 18:05:14

Korean Unions Press for More Pay and Job Security, Raising Labor Risk for Major Firms South Korea’s industrial sector is being shaken by growing labor risk, with unions stepping up pressure even as companies expand record bonuses and broaden conversions to regular employment aimed at job stability, industry officials said. According to the industry on the 22nd, the Samsung Electronics labor union’s joint struggle headquarters plans a large rally on the 23rd with about 37,000 participants, widely seen as a show of force ahead of any strike. The union’s key demand is to abolish the cap on performance bonuses. Samsung Electronics pays bonuses based on business-unit results but sets an upper limit; the union is seeking its full removal, effectively calling for unlimited, performance-linked compensation. With the semiconductor market highly volatile, the demand could increase the company’s burden by making the pay structure less flexible on the downside. Unions at Hyundai Motor Group are showing a similar pattern. Hyundai Motor paid about 500% of base pay in performance bonuses last year, along with encouragement payments in the tens of millions of won, marking its highest compensation level on record. Even so, the union has put a demand for a bonus equal to 30% of net profit on the wage and collective bargaining agenda. Industry watchers warn that tying bonuses to a fixed share of profit could reduce funds available for investment. Efforts to improve conditions across prime contractors and subcontractors are also facing complications. POSCO and HD Hyundai are strengthening measures such as converting partner-company workers to regular positions and improving treatment. But at worksites, additional demands from subcontractor unions and pushback from existing regular-worker unions are mixing, with signs of union-on-union conflict. Analysts say cooperation measures are expanding into broader calls to reshape employment structures, sowing new disputes. The trend is adding to pressure as external conditions remain uncertain, including energy-price instability tied to rising tensions in the Middle East and ongoing pressure from global supply-chain restructuring. The industry is increasingly wary that labor risk could go beyond higher costs and weaken fundamental competitiveness. A business group official said, “Even when companies accept demands such as bigger bonuses or conversions to regular employment, a structure is taking hold in which additional demands are repeated,” adding that it is “turning into an upward competition to keep raising demands, rather than labor-management negotiations.” Experts say repeated, short-term demands in an environment of weak trust between labor and management could undermine sustainability across industry. They also warn that if internal conflict drags on as global competition intensifies, both companies and workers could end up losing. Kim Dae-jong, a professor of business administration at Sejong University, said, “Considering that major industries have been sustained in part through national support, it will be difficult to gain broad public sympathy for excessive expansion of performance bonuses demanded by unions in semiconductors or autos.” He added, “Because jobs can be maintained only if companies keep investing, balance between bonuses and future investment is important.” Kim said, “Employment and wages can be maintained only if companies continue to grow,” and added that he hopes recent wage-bargaining conflicts at multiple companies will conclude in a mutually beneficial direction. 2026-04-22 18:04:43

Seoul Milk boosts eco-friendly packaging for Earth Day; Paris Baguette, Compose Coffee and Ildong Foodis updates Seoul Milk Cooperative steps up eco-friendly packaging for Earth Day Seoul Milk Cooperative said April 22 it is strengthening ESG management centered on environmentally friendly practices to mark Earth Day. The cooperative set up an ESG committee in 2021, the first in the dairy industry, and has expanded efforts from workplace changes—cutting single-use items, adopting recycled-paper business cards and switching to eco-friendly office supplies—to packaging innovation. On products, it has focused on packaging designed for recycling. It applied recycled material (r-PET) containers to its 700-milliliter organic milk and introduced label-free packaging for its spoonable yogurt brand Yohaim. It is also using paper straws, removing cap stickers and expanding water-separable labels. Last year, it introduced what it called the country’s first eco-friendly aseptic carton without aluminum. By removing the aluminum layer from the previous paper-polymer-aluminum structure, the cooperative said it improved recycling efficiency. It applied the carton to its organic aseptic milk and is seeking to expand its use. Seoul Milk said it received a minister’s commendation last year in the resource-circulation category from the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, citing measurable results since 2021, including packaging redesign and building recycling systems. It also said it is strengthening low-carbon production, operating 107 farms certified for low-carbon livestock products, while sales of its low-carbon certified milk are rising. “ESG activities centered on eco-friendliness are leading to tangible results,” cooperative Chairman Moon Jin-seop said. “We will strengthen resource-circulation systems across the entire production and distribution process.” Paris Baguette launches cakes in the low 20,000-won range, expands value desserts With high prices persisting, Paris Baguette is expanding its value dessert lineup with cakes priced in the low 20,000-won range. The bakery chain said April 22 it has launched two new cakes priced in the low 20,000-won range to reduce the burden of everyday spending. The Cheese Souffle Cake layers a soft souffle cheese topping with white cake and cheese cream. The Ttitra Earl Grey Cake uses Earl Grey from premium blended tea brand Ttitra, and adds peach pieces for a brighter flavor. Paris Baguette also sells other cakes in the same price range, including Tiramisu Cake and Strawberry Blossom Cake. “We are expanding our value cake series that customers can enjoy casually in everyday life,” a company official said. “We will continue to broaden choices with products across a range of prices and concepts.” Compose Coffee to release “Coffee Hanmogom” keyring sets to extend new-menu momentum Compose Coffee said April 22 it will offer “Coffee Hanmogom” keyring sets featuring a bear character from its brand film to mark the launch of its new “All Day Compose” menu line. The chain said new items, including the Vanilla Cream Latte, topped 350,000 cups sold within a week of release. It said the Vanilla Cream Latte has drawn interest as a reasonably priced menu item, highlighting rich vanilla cream and dark-chocolate flavor. The keyring sets were planned on the back of the new menu’s popularity. Each set pairs a coffee drink with a “Coffee Hanmogom” keyring. The character name combines the Korean phrase for “a sip of coffee” with “teddy bear,” reflecting the tone of the brand film. The sets come in five versions: Vanilla Cream Latte, Nutty Cream Latte, Pineapple Coffee, Better Than Einspanner and All Day Oat. The company said the lineup is designed to reflect different preferences, including decaf, fruit and cream-based options. A Compose Coffee official said the sets are intended to offer a brand experience “from morning to evening, anytime and anywhere.” Ildong Foodis Hi-Mune sponsors disability sports event with Paralympians ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​Ildong Foodis said April 22 it sponsored the “Disability Sports With Paralympians” event with its Hi-Mune Protein Balance Active drink. The event was held April 18 at Seoul World Cup Stadium with FC Seoul, featuring participatory sports programs bringing together people with and without disabilities. On site, a “Dream Paralympics” program offered hands-on experiences in disability sports such as wheelchair basketball and blind football. Medalists from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics also attended and met with the public. During a K League match that day, Nordic skier Kim Yoon-ji served as match-ball presenter, and snowboarder Lee Je-hyeok took part in the ceremonial kickoff. Ildong Foodis provided Hi-Mune Active to participants to support energy and nutrition during exercise. The company said the high-protein drink contains 20 grams of protein per pack and uses MPC (milk protein concentrate) and goat milk protein. An Ildong Foodis official said the sponsorship was arranged to help promote disability sports around the Day of Persons with Disabilities, adding that Hi-Mune would “be there wherever protein is needed.” Hi-Mune has continued marketing activities across sports including soccer, running and golf, the company said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 18:03:15

KOSPI, Nikkei hit fresh record highs despite US-Iran talks on hold SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - Asian markets mostly closed higher on Wednesday, with South Korea's benchmark KOSPI closing above the 6,400 mark for the first time, despite fresh uncertainties over the prolonged conflict in the Middle East after another round of talks between the U.S. and Iran was postponed indefinitely. The KOSPI rose 0.46 percent to close at a record 6,417.93 points, while the junior KOSDAQ gained 0.18 percent to finish at 1,181.12. Among large-cap tech shares, Samsung Electronics slipped 0.68 percent to 217,500 won and SK hynix also edged down 0.08 percent to 1,223,000 won. Battery makers traded mixed, with LG Energy Solution rising 1.36 percent to 484,500 won and Samsung SDI gaining 2.17 percent to 659,000 won. Automakers were subdued, with Hyundai Motor falling 0.92 percent to 541,000 won, while Kia was flat at 160,000 won. Defense and industrial shares advanced, led by Hanwha Aerospace, up 1.80 percent to 1,416,000 won, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries surged 11.28 percent to 641,000 won. Samsung Electro-Mechanics jumped 5.18 percent to 812,000 won, while Samsung Biologics fell 1.70 percent to 1,561,000 won. Despite the index extending its rally overall, up 52 percent since the start of this year, the entertainment sector has moved in the opposite direction, with shares of the four major entertainment companies falling more than 20 percent on average. SM Entertainment posted the steepest decline. Its shares fell 31.33 percent over the past four months, from around 130,000 won at the start of the year to 92,700 won on Wednesday. Over the same period, shares of HYBE dropped 24.24 percent, while YG Entertainment fell 21.47 percent and JYP Entertainment declined 12.67 percent, leaving the sector largely sidelined from the broader equity rally. The South Korean won remained stable, trading at 1,478 won against the dollar, compared with the previous close of 1,476 won. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 closed at a record high, supported by continued buying in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related shares. The index rose 0.4 percent from the previous session to finish at 59,585.86, surpassing its prior record close of 59,518.34 set on April 16. The gains were led in part by technology heavyweights, including SoftBank Group, whose shares surged 8.47 percent to 5,620 yen. China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.52 percent to 4,106.26, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 1.22 percent to 26,163.24. 2026-04-22 18:01:26

People Power Party Picks Lee Jeong-hyeon for Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City, Yang Jeong-mu for North Jeolla Governor The People Power Party’s nomination management committee on Tuesday made single-candidate nominations for Lee Jeong-hyeon, a former nomination committee chair, as its candidate for mayor of the planned Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, and for Yang Jeong-mu, a former party chapter chair for Jeonju Gap, as its candidate for governor of North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province. Committee chair Park Deok-heum said at an afternoon news conference at the party’s central headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, that Lee is “the right person” to lead “change and a new leap forward” for the newly launching integrated special city, citing his national government experience and political skills. Ahn Tae-uk, a former Gwangju party chair who had applied for the Jeonnam-Gwangju post, withdrew his application. Park said he expects Ahn to continue supporting the party “for a new leap forward and victory,” noting a by-election is expected in Gwangju’s Gwangsan-eul district. The by-election is expected after Min Hyung-bae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, was ultimately selected as the party’s candidate for mayor of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City. The committee also made single-candidate recommendations for Cha Hwa-yeol as its candidate for mayor of Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi province and for Lee Nam-hyung as its candidate for head of Seoul’s Gwanak district. For the June 3 parliamentary by-elections, the party nominated Kim Min-kyung in Asan-eul, South Chungcheong province; Kim Seok-hoon in Ansan Gap, Gyeonggi province; and Oh Ji-seong in Gunsan-Gimje-Buan-gun Gap, North Jeolla province. Park said more discussion is needed on the nomination for Pyeongtaek-eul in Gyeonggi, where Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, is running, adding that a decision will be made “within a day or two.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 18:00:19

Seoul mayoral rivals Oh Se-hoon and Jung Won-oh court social workers in first joint appearance Democratic Party Seoul mayoral candidate Jung Won-oh and People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon, the incumbent Seoul mayor, appeared side by side at an official event for the first time since their nominations were confirmed on April 22, seeking support from social workers. They attended the 40th anniversary ceremony of the Seoul Association of Social Workers that afternoon at the Baekbeom Kim Koo Memorial Hall in Seoul’s Hyochang-dong neighborhood. Also present were Seoul Vice Mayor for Political Affairs Kim Byung-min, Democratic Party lawmakers Nam In-soon and Jung Tae-ho, and People Power Party lawmakers Seo Myung-ok and Kim Jae-seop. In congratulatory remarks, Oh said Seoul has made “accompanying the vulnerable” the top priority of city administration and pointed to what he described as policy results. “Seoul is an administrative unit where debt tends to keep rising, but during my term the debt fell significantly,” Oh said. He added that even under tight budgets, the city has worked each year to raise social workers’ pay and bring allowances in line with reality to improve working conditions. Oh said a survey of social welfare workers showed job satisfaction rose to 81.7% from 64.4% three years earlier. “I believe a warmer and healthier special city with a higher quality of life will be completed when social workers can take pride in their work,” he said. Oh also signaled his desire to serve another term, saying he wanted to “take responsibility to the end” so social workers can focus on their jobs in a better environment. Jung, casting himself as the challenger, responded by setting a higher target. “Since Mayor Oh says he did so well that job satisfaction rose into the 80% range, I’ll set my goal at 90%,” Jung said. He also highlighted his personal ties to the field, noting his wife is a social worker and that he studied social welfare. Jung said that while working as Seongdong district mayor, he felt most strongly that welfare is not completed by systems and budgets alone but “at the fingertips of social workers.” “I will do everything I can so that those fingertips can carry strength and warmth,” he said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 17:54:16

Aricell CEO’s sentence cut to 4 years on appeal in fire that killed 23 A South Korean appeals court sharply reduced the prison sentence for Park Soon-kwan, CEO of Aricell, who was indicted under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act after a factory fire that killed 23 workers.  The Suwon High Court’s Criminal Division 1 on Tuesday overturned a lower court ruling that had sentenced Park to 15 years in prison and instead sentenced him to four years. Park was charged with violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (industrial manslaughter), the Dispatch Workers Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.  The court said the outcome of the fire was “extremely grave,” noting that 23 people died and nine were injured. But it said Park appeared to have made a management decision in delegating much of Aricell’s work to his son, and that there was insufficient basis to conclude he did so to evade responsibility under the serious-accidents law or the dispatch law. While the appeals court agreed Park qualified as a responsible manager under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and upheld multiple safety-duty violations found at trial, it reached a different conclusion on prosecutors’ primary allegation regarding emergency exits.  It said Article 17 of the safety and health rules requires emergency exits in workplaces handling hazardous materials and in the buildings themselves, but does not require exits on every floor. The court said there was no duty to install an emergency exit on the second floor of Building 3 at the factory. The appeals court also reduced the sentence for Park’s son, Park Jung-eon, Aricell’s general headquarters chief. It overturned the lower court’s sentence of 15 years in prison and a 1 million won fine, and sentenced him to seven years in prison and a 1 million won fine. He was indicted on charges including violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and professional negligence resulting in death and injury.  After the ruling, bereaved families protested, saying, “What kind of law is this?” and “If the court had considered the families even a little, it could not have issued a four-year sentence.” A lawyer for the victims said a four-year term in a case of this scale raised doubts about whether the serious-accidents law could function going forward, calling the decision “a ruling that deeply hurt the families.” Park was indicted over the June 24, 2024, fire at Aricell’s plant in Seosin-myeon, Hwaseong, accused of failing to inspect harmful and dangerous factors and of not preparing a manual for major accidents, among other alleged breaches of safety and health obligations. His son was accused of violating duties of care in battery storage and management and in safety management to prepare for fires, leading to a large loss of life.  In September last year, the trial court sentenced Park to 15 years in prison, the heaviest sentence imposed in a case prosecuted since the Serious Accidents Punishment Act took effect in 2022. His son was also sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 1 million won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 17:51:39