S Korea boss arrested over deadly fire at battery plant

By João da Silva, Business reporter, Aug.29: The chief executive of Aricell, a South Korean lithium battery company, has been arrested over a massive factory fire in June that killed 23 people and injured nine others.

A court approved the warrant for Park Soon-kwan's arrest on Wednesday.

Investigators have said Aricell's management is suspected of workplace safety violations. The fire was one of South Korea's worst factory disasters in recent years.

Aricells' parent company, S-Connect, did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment.

After the fire Mr Park issued an apology: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and would like to express our deepest condolences and apologies to the bereaved families."

"We take great responsibility and will sincerely provide support to the deceased and their families in every way possible," he added.

News1 South Korean police officers escort Park Soon-kwan.News1

Park Soon-kwan was arrested after an investigation found safety failings at the plant

Photo Courtesy: Newa 1, Park Soon-kwan was arrested after an investigation found safety failings at the plant

His arrest comes after a police investigation found that the factory had been rushing to meet production deadlines.

Investigators said there were a number of safety issues at the plant, including a failure to address quality defects in batteries and hiring unskilled staff to handle dangerous materials.

It was also alleged that Aricell had been cheating in quality inspections related to contracts with the military.

The blaze broke out on 24 June after several battery cells exploded.

At the time of the fire, the Aricell factory housed an estimated 35,000 battery cells on its second floor, where batteries were inspected and packaged.

As a lithium fire can react intensely with water, firefighters had to use dry sand to extinguish the blaze, which took several hours to get under control.

The victims were mostly foreign workers, from country's including China and Laos.

South Korea is a leading producer of lithium batteries, which are used in many items from electric cars to laptops.