Gangneung, South Korea – The Supreme Court in South Korea has ruled in favor of businesses affected by a hydrogen explosion, ordering compensation of over 10 billion won. This decision stems from an incident in 2019 at the Gangwon Province Gangneung Science Industrial Complex, where a hydrogen storage tank project led to a deadly explosion, claiming two lives and injuring six individuals.
The court found five public and private corporations accountable for the project liable for the damages suffered by the businesses in the industrial complex. These corporations, including the Korea Energy Technology Evaluation Institute (KETEP) and the Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS), were ordered to compensate the affected companies with a total exceeding 10 billion won.
Following the explosion, 34 businesses in the complex filed a lawsuit in September 2020, seeking damages amounting to 7.5 billion won. They alleged negligence on the part of KETEP and KGS in managing the project, leading to the tragic incident. The initial court ruling mandated a compensation of over 8.8 billion won, emphasizing the failure to foresee and prevent such accidents through proper safety measures.
In its assessment, the court highlighted the lack of necessary safety devices and proper due diligence in assessing operational capacity, attributing negligence to both KETEP and KGS. Despite appeals from both the affected businesses and the agencies involved, the court upheld the initial ruling. However, the compensation amount increased to over 10 billion won, inclusive of additional interest accumulated during the legal proceedings.
This verdict signals a significant legal outcome in holding corporations accountable for industrial accidents, underscoring the importance of stringent safety measures in such high-risk projects. The Supreme Court’s decision sets a precedent for ensuring accountability and compensation for those impacted by negligence in industrial operations, reflecting a commitment to justice and safety in South Korea.