South Korea Orders Probe After Battery Plant Workers Receive Secret Injections
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ordered a thorough investigation after battery plant workers were secretly given heavy metal chelation injections disguised as vitamins.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has ordered labor authorities and law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations that workers at a DN Automotive battery plant were secretly injected with heavy metal detoxifying agents disguised as vitamin shots.
Investigation and Workplace Safety
President Lee demanded an immediate review into the extent of hazardous exposure, the circumstances surrounding the injections, and the potential cover-up of adverse medical test results. According to the South Korean economic daily Hankyung, the president strongly criticized the plant after learning that lead levels measured during production were more than five times the legal standard.
The directive follows a comprehensive review of measures taken by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung noted that workers allegedly received the chelation treatments repeatedly under false pretenses. Lee instructed authorities to verify whether hazardous exposures and medical treatments were properly documented, urging strict legal action against any violations to protect workers' health rights.
Corporate Response and Apology
At the center of the controversy are claims that employees received chelation therapy—a medical procedure designed to bind and remove heavy metals from the body—without knowing its true purpose. Following these findings, labor authorities transferred the case to the police on suspicion of obstructing business operations and violating regulatory protocols.
DN Automotive issued a formal apology through CEO Kim In-hwan, who acknowledged that the company failed to prioritize worker health and safety. He pledged full cooperation with government investigations, expert audits, safety assessments, and epidemiological studies examining disease patterns related to toxic exposure.
"We deeply regret our failure to uphold the fundamental principle that employee safety comes above all else, and we will fully cooperate with authorities to uncover the truth," stated CEO Kim In-hwan.
The company announced it will accept the conclusions of a nine-member external expert committee established by the Ministry of Labor, comprising representatives from labor, management, and the government. Furthermore, DN Automotive promised to invest in upgrading safety infrastructure and strengthening health protection systems in collaboration with labor unions and regulators.
