[Unofficial translation provided by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

“Prosecutors seek 20-year prison term for Aricell CEO over deadly fire that killed 23”, 23 July 2025

The Suwon District Court’s 14th Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Ko Kwon-hong) concluded hearings on 23 July in the case of Park Soon-kwan, the CEO of Aricell, who has been indicted for violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and causing death and injury through occupational negligence.

Prosecutors requested a 20-year prison sentence for CEO Park, and a 15-year term for his son, Park Jung-eon, Aricell’s Chief Operating Officer. For other Aricell employees charged as co-defendants, the prosecution demanded penalties ranging from fines of KRW 10 million to prison sentences of up to three years.

The prosecution also sought fines of KRW 800 million against the company Aricell itself, KRW 30 million against Hanshin Dia, KRW 30 million against Meisel, and KRW 10 million against Kangsan Industrial Construction.

Prosecutors described the case as a grave crime in which a profit-driven battery manufacturer supplied defective batteries and failed to establish even the most basic safety systems, resulting in the loss of 23 precious lives.

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The verdict is scheduled to be delivered at 2:00 p.m. on 23 September.