Input 2021.02.22 14:42 | Revision 2021.02.22 15:08
Yoon Mi-hyang “POSCO acts as hell when the door opens, and Choi Jung-woo acts as a grim reaper”
On the 22nd, the opposition parties poured out sharp criticism toward the CEOs of large corporations who attended the’hearing on industrial accidents’ by the National Assembly’s Environmental Labor Committee.
To POSCO Chairman Jeong-Woo Choi, who submitted a letter of reasons for non-attendance to Hwanno Committee, he said that it was “a medical certificate mainly issued by insurance scammers,” and to the foreigner, Joseph Nathan, CEO of Coupang Fullfilment, said, “If you are a representative from Korea, you should also speak Korean.”
Prior to the inquiries, the ruling and opposition parties explained that the hearing was held through an agreement between the ruling and the opposition parties, and that it was not a place to confront the witnesses present. Rep. Lim Isa, secretary of the power of the people, said, “As the hearing was held due to the agreement of the opposition parties, it is not a place for political disputes,” he said. “Most companies’ shareholders’ meetings are held in March, so I hope that the issues pointed out at this meeting will be reflected in the report of the board of directors.” .
In addition, Rep. Ahn Ho-young, a secretary of the Democratic Party, said, “It is not intended to give face to corporate representatives,” and said, “It is a place to consider the structural causes of industrial accidents, practical countermeasures, and government-level alternatives.” He said, “I hope that the lawmakers will be able to seek practical preventive measures, not political war or punishment.”
However, when the hearing inquiry began, criticism was poured out toward the witnesses, centering on POSCO Chairman Jeong-woo Choi, who originally submitted a letter of reasons for absence due to’sprain and tension in the lumbar spine’.
Rep. Kim Woong Kookmin Strength said, “The lumbar and cervical sprains are mainly produced by insurance scammers.” He said, “It’s uncomfortable to have a back pain, but I’m squeezed by a roller and die, and how painful and painful it would be.”
Rep. Lim, a secretary of the power of the people, said, “I was absurd when I saw the notice that I would not attend the hearing,” he said, referring to the deaths of industrial accidents that occurred in POSCO after Choi took office. He said, “We are crying because it hurts even if we get a thorn under our nails, but when we see workers who died like this, we can’t speak, and our heart trembles,” he said. “As POSCO chairman, you must politely apologize to the workers who died from the bereaved family and industrial accidents. Isn’t that right?”
Chairman Choi said, “I think my thoughts were short. I’m sorry”, and Rep. Lim said, “I don’t have short thoughts, that’s the personality of the chairman.” Rep. Lim said, “The same is true of deaths, the president took office, and the deaths increased sharply,” he said, listing related materials, and to Chairman Choi, who could not answer, “Why can’t you answer, is the company so passive?”
Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang said, “From 2018 to 2020, POSCO’s penalty imposed for a major disaster was about 1.09 billion won,” he said. “Isn’t there a perception that if there is a disaster, pay fines?”
He said, “If you open the door, the expression of hell seems to reveal today’s POSCO,” he said. “If so, the witness might be the role of a grim reaper in which workers enter hell.”
Criticism also poured out against Hyundai Heavy Industries Chairman Han Young-seok, who cited’unsafe behavior’ as one of the causes of industrial accidents. Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Su-jin said, “(Chairman Han) said that one of the main causes of industrial accidents was unsafe behavior, and workers did not observe what they did, so they couldn’t act well.
Previously, when asked by independent lawmaker Park Deok-heum,’How are you taking measures against industrial accidents?’ It can be, but unsafe behavior is difficult (to change).”
Criticism also came against Joseph Coupang, who had to conduct an interrogation through an interpreter. Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Jong-seong began an interrogation with Joseph and asked, “Is it possible to speak Korean or do I need to translate it?” and to the employee’s answer, “I think I should translate,” he said, “The Korean representative should also speak Korean.”
