Photo = Yonhap news

 

 

[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Seoul, May 21 – Shares of SPC Samlip extended their losses for a third straight session on Tuesday following a fatal workplace accident that has sparked public backlash and renewed scrutiny of the company’s safety practices.



SPC Samlip stock closed at KRW 53,100, down 0.6% from the previous session. The decline follows a sharp 3.9% drop on May 19, the day of the incident. The stock has fallen 5.9% over the past three trading days.



The accident occurred around 3 a.m. on May 19 at SPC Samlip’s Siheung plant in Gyeonggi Province. A woman in her 50s died after becoming trapped in a conveyor belt while applying lubricant during a maintenance task.



The incident has reignited public outrage, especially in light of a series of previous accidents involving SPC Group affiliates. Over the past three years, SPC has reported three worker deaths and five injury cases related to workplace accidents.



Public sentiment has been further inflamed by calls for a boycott of SPC products, including the company’s popular KBO-themed bread products. On social media, users have been circulating lists of SPC-owned brands—such as Paris Baguette, Baskin Robbins, Dunkin’, Paris Croissant, and Pascucci—urging consumers to stop purchasing from the group.



Political figures from both major parties in Korea have also criticized the company’s repeated safety failures. The company previously faced a nationwide boycott in 2022 after a worker was killed at its SPL plant in Pyeongtaek.



At that time, SPC Group Chairman Hur Young-in held a public apology and pledged to invest KRW 100 billion (approx. USD 74 million) over three years to enhance workplace safety. Despite having reportedly spent over KRW 80 billion to date, critics argue that systemic safety issues remain unresolved.

 

 

 

[ⓒ AlphaBIZ. 무단전재-재배포 금지]