The Ministry of Employment and Labor has asked police to investigate DN Automotive, a battery manufacturer suspected of administering chelation drugs that flush lead from the body to workers ahead of mandatory occupational health examinations in an attempt to distort test results.
The ministry said on the 12th that it referred DN Automotive and a hospital involved in the case to police in August on suspicion of obstruction of business. The current Occupational Safety and Health Act has no provision directly penalizing the administration of chelation drugs, so the obstruction charge was applied.
DN Automotive's Ulsan plant is suspected of regularly injecting workers with chelation agents, describing them as vitamin shots, to prevent high blood lead concentrations from showing up in health examinations.
Through its inspection, the ministry identified 68 violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and responded with criminal charges and administrative fines. President Lee Jae-myung on the same day called the case "an unacceptable and grave violation of human rights to have concealed exposure to hazardous substances," and ordered a stern response.
In an apology issued under the name of Chief Executive Kim In-hwan, DN Automotive said it regretted failing to uphold its principle of putting safety and health first, and pledged to cooperate with the government investigation, take responsibility and prevent a recurrence.