South Korean labor authorities found 338 violations of industrial safety law at semiconductor plants, breaches that could lead to fires, explosions or chemical leaks. Nearly half were at SK hynix (000660.KS) plants in Cheongju and Icheon.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor said on the 20th that it uncovered the violations during an intensive inspection of 27 semiconductor manufacturers.
The industry is considered high-risk because it handles large volumes of hazardous chemicals and high-pressure gases, raising the potential for major industrial accidents with mass casualties. The ministry will order corrective action in 188 of the 338 cases and impose fines in 120. Another 28 will be referred to prosecutors. It also revoked one subcontracting approval and issued one work suspension order.
At SK hynix's Cheongju campus, where a series of fluorine leaks occurred in June, inspectors found 119 violations, or 35.2% of the total. Another 48 were found at the company's Icheon campus, bringing SK hynix's share to about half of all violations.
For the Cheongju campus, the ministry plans to refer safety rule breaches to prosecutors, and separately levy 32 million won ($23,000) in fines over missing warning labels and failure to post material safety data sheets. For Icheon, it imposed 27.7 million won ($20,000) in fines and revoked a subcontracting approval after finding the plant had not followed required work procedures for approved subcontracted operations.
The ministry said it will pursue administrative and legal measures rigorously, given the number of violations found at SK hynix and other major chipmakers.
