Ulsan: President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday pledged to determine whether there were safety lapses at a thermal plant site in the southeastern city of Ulsan where seven workers were killed and sternly punish those found accountable. Lee made the remark after authorities on Friday recovered the last of the seven workers who were trapped when a 63-meter tower at the plant collapsed on Nov. 6. The bodies of the six others had been recovered.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee expressed his deep remorse over the incident, stating, "As the person ultimately in charge of public safety, I am genuinely and deeply sorry." He lamented that all seven trapped workers returned to their families as bodies, describing the accident as one that "should not have happened" and committed to preventing similar incidents in the future.

Lee emphasized the need for a swift and thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. He vowed to take stern punitive measures against those found accountable, irrespective of their positions. He also urged relevant ministries to reassess workplace safety conditions and implement necessary safety measures, especially during the winter season.

In a separate post on X, formerly Twitter, Lee reiterated the importance of rewarding merit and punishing faults, aligning with his administration's efforts to investigate potential illegal activities by public officials and encouraging proactive public administration. On Tuesday, the government announced plans to establish a task force to address these issues, followed by measures to bolster the civil service community.