London Bagel Museum (LBM) issued an official apology over recent labor environment controversies and pledged to prevent a recurrence.
On the 10th, CEO Kang Kwan-ku said in a statement, "We feel a heavy social responsibility for the importance of a work environment where members can work safely, and we sincerely apologize," adding, "We also deeply apologize to all customers who have loved London Bagel Museum for the great disappointment caused by this incident."
LBM said, "Since the issue arose, I and the new management have personally checked every matter and spoken with those involved," and added, "Through this, we were able to resolve the bereaved family's misunderstandings related to the matter."
It went on to explain, "Given the nature of a cafe store where business hours and daily production by location are fixed, the possibility of long overtime continuing is very low." It also said, "From January to Oct., the average actual weekly working hours across all locations were 43.5 hours." The Incheon location at issue also fell from a July average of 46.1 hours to 41.1 hours in Oct.
It said it feels deep responsibility regarding concerns that 63 cases of industrial accident approvals are many. It explained this was because the company actively cooperates to process even minor injuries or commuting accidents as industrial accidents instead of handling them as company accidents.
It continued, "In fact, over the past three years, we have provided industrial accident guidance without omission for workplace injuries that occurred across all stores—such as knife cuts, first-degree burns, abrasions, contusions in the kitchen, and commuting accidents," and said, "It is, rather, the result of proactive filings to protect members within the system."
Regarding the controversy over founding member and creative director Lee Hyo-jeong (Ryo), it said, "Recently, baseless fabrication and dissemination of false information, personal-attacks-level insults, and malicious posts about Director Ryo have been spreading indiscriminately online," and added, "We respectfully request restraint from spreading false information and making defamatory remarks."
CEO Kang acknowledged there were areas where the operating system failed to keep up as the company grew rapidly. He said that since the sale in Aug., the new management has been pushing to introduce an HR system, establish an industrial safety management framework, and reform personnel systems to comply with the 52-hour workweek. LBM said, "We will make restoring trust our top priority, transparently share every step, and fulfill responsible management."