Police have summoned an executive from DN Automotive, a manufacturer of automotive batteries, over allegations that the company administered injections to workers to lower their blood lead levels ahead of special health examinations. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the injections and whether there was an intent to conceal lead levels.
According to Yonhap News on October 13, police questioned an executive identified as A from DN Automotive. They are looking into the process by which the so-called 'chelation' injections were given to workers and whether the company acted with intent. However, police have stated that they cannot disclose specific details about the investigation.
Chelation therapy is a treatment that helps remove heavy metals from the bloodstream through urine. DN Automotive is accused of improperly administering these injections to lower lead levels in workers who were expected to have high readings during health assessments. There are claims that the injections were misrepresented to employees as 'vitamin shots.'
The allegations first emerged in February during a press conference held by the Ulsan branch of the National Metal Workers Union. The union claimed that production workers were exposed to the risk of lead poisoning and that the company pressured them to receive chelation injections, which could have adverse side effects, to distort the results of health examinations.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor has also deemed it necessary to investigate the matter. The ministry believes that the company's actions obstructed government measures to protect worker health and referred DN Automotive to the Ulsan police for investigation on charges of obstruction of work in August.
On October 12, President Lee Jae-myung described the situation as a 'serious violation of human rights' and directed a strict response. In light of the growing controversy, DN Automotive issued a statement the same day, expressing regret that the principle of prioritizing employee safety and health was not upheld and stating their willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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