Lotte Wellfood officially apologized on August 21 for an ammonia leak incident that occurred at its Yeongdeungpo plant in Seoul and announced plans to implement preventive measures.
In a statement, Lotte Wellfood expressed, "We sincerely apologize for causing great concern to nearby residents and customers due to the gas leak incident at the Yeongdeungpo plant."
The company added, "We will cooperate sincerely and transparently with the investigation by relevant authorities and will conduct thorough safety inspections of the facility along with preventive measures against recurrence."
Earlier that day, at approximately 5:30 a.m., ammonia gas leaked from the Lotte Wellfood Yeongdeungpo plant near Seonyudo Station in Yangpyeong-dong 5-ga, prompting a response from the fire department. About 40 employees present at the plant evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported.
The Yeongdeungpo plant, which was completed in 1969, is a major production facility for Lotte Wellfood, currently manufacturing gum, candy, chocolate, and ice cream.
Lotte Wellfood stated, "We reported the incident to emergency services immediately, and by 5:52 a.m., the main gas valve was successfully shut off by the responding fire department."
The company further noted, "Subsequent measurements of residual gas concentrations in the plant and surrounding areas by fire, district office, and environmental authorities confirmed 'non-detection,' safely concluding the emergency situation."
This information was also communicated to local residents through safety alerts from the district office.
Lotte Wellfood emphasized, "We prioritize safety as our top value and have been conducting regular safety inspections and emergency response training for our employees. We will thoroughly review our safety management system in light of this incident and promptly implement necessary corrective actions to prevent recurrence."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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