Key facts
- President Lee Jae Myung ordered a stern response to alleged worker abuse at DN Automotive.
- DN Automotive allegedly disguised injections to cover up lead exposure.
- The company passed a work environment assessment despite five times the allowed lead level.
- Lee ordered a thorough investigation into exposure, injections, and potential cover-ups.
- Authorities are to take stern measures if violations are found.
SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung ordered authorities on Monday to respond sternly to allegations that a car battery manufacturer, DN Automotive, tricked its workers into receiving injections to conceal dangerous levels of lead in its production line. The company allegedly disguised these shots as "vitamin injections" ahead of medical exams.
According to a news report, DN Automotive, a major local car battery manufacturer, tricked workers at its plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan into getting the shots multiple times. President Lee was briefed on the labor ministry's recent decision to refer the company to the police for investigation. He strongly rebuked the government because the company had passed a work environment assessment even after five times the allowed level of lead was found in its production process, according to his spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.