Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
Lee orders investigation into alleged worker abuse at battery plant
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a thorough investigation into alleged worker abuse at a car battery plant in Ulsan.
The allegations concern DN Automotive, a major local battery maker.
Workers were reportedly told injections were vitamins, but the shots were allegedly meant to help discharge heavy metals from their bodies.
The company is also accused of concealing dangerous lead exposure in its production process.
The labor ministry referred the company to police after a workplace assessment found lead levels five times above the allowed limit.
Lee wants investigators to establish workers’ exposure, how the injections were given and whether medical results were concealed.
He also called for checks at other production sites and stronger protections for workers; authorities are to take action if they find legal violations.
President Lee Jae Myung ordered a thorough investigation into allegations that DN Automotive concealed dangerous lead exposure at a car battery plant.
A news report said workers at the company’s Ulsan plant were given injections disguised as vitamin shots before medical examinations.
Lee was briefed that the labor ministry had referred the company to police for investigation.
He also ordered authorities to check whether medical results were concealed and to inspect for similar cases at other production facilities.
- Who
- President Lee Jae Myung ordered the investigation; DN Automotive is the company facing allegations.
- What
- Authorities were told to investigate alleged lead exposure, injections given to workers and possible concealment of medical results.
- When
- Monday, Oct. 12, 2026.
- Where
- DN Automotive’s plant in Ulsan, southeastern South Korea.
- Why
- Lee said the allegations involved a grave violation of workers’ rights and health; he called for their protection and for any legal violations to be addressed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
President Lee said it was an unacceptable and grave human rights violation that a company, which should protect workers' lives and health, made its workers get injections while hiding potential side effects and covered up the exposure to harmful substances
He ordered a stern response.
The labor ministry referred DN Automotive to police for investigation.
Lee ordered a thorough investigation into the allegations and checks for similar cases at other production facilities.
- Company
- DN Automotive
- Plant location
- Ulsan, southeastern South Korea
- Lead level
- Five times the allowed level was found in the production process
- Reported injections
- Workers were allegedly given shots disguised as vitamin injections
- Referral
- The labor ministry referred the company to police for investigation
Sources
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