Suwon: An appeals court has reduced the prison sentence for the CEO of lithium battery maker Aricell, Park Soon-kwan, to four years, in connection with a deadly fire at the company's plant in 2024. The Suwon High Court's decision significantly cuts the original 15-year sentence handed down by a lower court, which was linked to a blaze in June 2024 that resulted in the deaths of 23 workers and injuries to nine others.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Suwon District Court had originally imposed the severe punishment on Park in September, following his indictment on multiple charges, including failure to ensure workplace safety and violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. The appeals court acknowledged the severe consequences of the fire but found insufficient evidence to conclude that Park intended to evade accountability under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

The court also dismissed the prosecution's claim that Aricell failed to install an emergency exit on the second floor of the plant, noting that safety regulations do not mandate installation on each floor. Additionally, the court reduced the sentence of Park's son, a company general manager, to seven years from the lower court's 15-year term.

The ruling has sparked protests from the families of the victims, with some expressing their anger towards the judge. A legal representative for the victims stated, "This is a ruling that has inflicted great pain on the bereaved families."

The Serious Accidents Punishment Act prescribes punishments for owners or CEOs of companies, including at least one year in prison or fines up to 1 billion won (US$677,000) for fatal industrial accidents.