Posco fires steel mill head after latest accident in series leaves 3 hospitalized
Published: 21 Nov. 2025, 14:29
Updated: 23 Nov. 2025, 17:46
![A view of Posco’s Pohang steel mill in Pohang, North Gyeongsang [CHANG SE-JEONG]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/11/23/105d603c-a58c-4152-84c2-21763c4624ff.jpg)
A view of Posco’s Pohang steel mill in Pohang, North Gyeongsang [CHANG SE-JEONG]
Posco has dismissed the head of its Pohang steel mill following a series of safety incidents that left multiple workers injured or dead, the company said Friday.
The company removed Pohang Steelworks chief Lee Dong-ryeol from his post on Friday, a day after three workers fell unconscious from inhaling toxic gas during an outdoor sludge-cleaning operation.
The company will not immediately name a successor. Instead, Posco President Lee Hee-keun will serve concurrently as head of the mill, overseeing the investigation into the accident and leading efforts to strengthen safety management.
The Pohang mill has seen three major accidents this year alone. Worker deaths were reported in March and earlier this month, intensifying criticism that the company has failed to manage high-risk sites properly.
The company also issued a formal apology on the same day over Thursday's accident, pledging to establish measures to prevent a recurrence.
“An unexpected accident during cleaning operations at the Pohang mill caused injuries to employees of Posco and our partner company,” the company said in a statement released under Lee's name. “We extend our deepest apologies to the victims and their families.”
Lee said Posco immediately activated an emergency response team after the accident and is working with relevant authorities to determine its precise cause. “Above all, we are providing every necessary form of support to help the injured workers recover as quickly as possible,” he said.
“As the president of the company, I feel a deep sense of responsibility for the series of safety incidents that have caused concern,” he added. “We will put in place thorough measures to prevent a recurrence and make company-wide efforts to ensure such an accident never happens again.”
On Thursday morning, two subcontracted workers and an in-house Posco firefighter collapsed after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning sludge at the stainless steel No. 4 plant.
All three were transported to the hospital unconscious. The Posco firefighter regained consciousness overnight and has been moved to a general ward, but the two subcontracted workers remain in critical condition.
Three members of Posco’s disaster response team who attempted to rescue them also inhaled toxic gas but suffered only minor symptoms and their conditions are not life-threatening.
Updated, Nov. 21, 2025: Recast beginning to reflect dismissal of the head of the mill, recast headline.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY PARK YOUNG-WOO [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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