HD Hyundai Heavy Industries expressed condolences and apologized over the accident in which a partner company worker died in a fire on a Navy submarine undergoing maintenance.
According to industry sources on the 12th, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said on the 11th in a statement in the names of Vice Chairman and CEO Lee Sang-gyun and President Geum Seok-ho, "We deeply apologize for failing to protect a precious life."
Lee and Geum said, "We express our deepest condolences to the deceased and offer our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family, who must be in great sorrow and shock from the sudden sad news."
They continued, "Even though we have implemented strong safety policies with the goal of preventing serious accidents at the source, the company cannot contain its profound sorrow over the heartbreaking loss of a precious life due to an unexpected accident." They also said, "We feel a heavy sense of responsibility to our colleagues who must be suffering pain and shock from this accident," adding, "We will mobilize all possible measures to do our utmost in handling the aftermath and providing support."
They also said they would work to analyze the cause of the accident and prepare countermeasures. The two top executives said, "The company will faithfully cooperate with the investigations by the relevant authorities and thoroughly identify the cause of the accident to prepare all necessary measures so that such a tragedy never happens again."
They added, "We will engrave the sacrifice of the deceased deep in our hearts and do everything in our power and responsibility to create a safer workplace."
At about 1:58 p.m. on the 9th, a fire broke out on the Navy's 214-class submarine Hong Beom-do while it was undergoing depot-level maintenance (maintenance work to keep the hull and equipment at optimal performance) at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan Shipyard. Of the 47 workers who had gone in for maintenance, 46 evacuated, but one worker from a partner company was unable to get out, became trapped, and was recovered as a body after about 33 hours.
An HD Hyundai Heavy Industries official said, "We pray for the repose of the deceased and offer our deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved family, who are in great sorrow from the sudden accident," adding, "The company is actively cooperating with the investigations by the relevant authorities to identify the exact cause of the accident and will make every effort to prepare supplementary safety management measures to prevent a recurrence."