HL만도 ‘끼임 사망’ 20대 하청노동자 어머니의 편지 “대통령님, 아들이 왜 죽어야했나요?”

On July 22nd of last year, a 28-year-old HL만도 (HL) subcontract worker, Kim Seung-mo, died while working at a manufacturing plant in Paldal, Gyeonggi-do. The Korea Metal Workers Union reported that the 28-year-old was killed when he was caught under machinery when he was inspecting it. The company's investigation revealed that the safety interlock device was not installed on the machine. HL만도 had a similar incident in 2016, but the safety device was never properly installed afterwards.

Kim Seonhee, Kim Seung-mo's mother, wrote a letter to President Moon Jae-in on November 11th. She expressed her anger towards the company, stating that they only seek a compromise through a large law firm and prioritize production over subcontracting. She criticized the Ministry of Employment and Labor for their inadequate response to the accident.

She pleaded for the government to intervene against corporate greed and to enforce the responsibilities of the labor ministry. She ended her letter by saying that she hopes her son's death was not in vain.

President Moon, Kim Seonhee is the mother of 28-year-old subcontract worker Kim Seung-mo. She described the week-long ordeal of rushing her son to the hospital after he was injured at the workplace. She was unable to see her son as he was covered in a white sheet in the hospital. She took her son to the accident site and was met with anger from his father.

She expressed her frustration with the company, stating that it is not a place where anyone should work. She criticized the company for not providing proper safety equipment and for not having any supervision during the incident.

Kim Seonhee's husband stated that they were unaware of the danger of the workplace, and that the company should not have sent anyone there. She expressed her hope that the government would finally take responsibility for the accident and provide proper closure for her son's death.