"Executive Arrested in Connection with Deadly Fire at South Korean Battery Plant"

 After the fire, Mr. Park issued an apology: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and extend our heartfelt condolences and apologies to the families of the victims. We take full responsibility and will provide comprehensive support to the deceased and their families in every possible way."

Park Soon-kwan was arrested following an investigation that uncovered safety violations at the plant. The arrest came after it was revealed that the factory had been pushing to meet production deadlines, leading to several safety issues. These included failing to address battery quality defects and employing unskilled workers to handle hazardous materials. Additionally, there were allegations that Aricell had been falsifying quality inspections related to military contracts.

The fire, which broke out on June 24, was triggered by the explosion of several battery cells. At the time, the Aricell factory had around 35,000 battery cells on its second floor, where batteries were inspected and packaged. Due to the intense reaction of lithium fires with water, firefighters used dry sand to control the blaze, which took several hours to extinguish.

The victims of the fire were predominantly foreign workers from countries including China and Laos. South Korea, a major producer of lithium batteries used in electric vehicles and electronics, is grappling with the aftermath of this incident.