28-8-2023 (SEOUL) According to reports from South Korean media, a woman in Dongducheon City, Gyeonggi Province, accidentally consumed a cup of what appeared to be clear water but was actually a corrosive liquid “sample” while at work on June 28th. As a result, she experienced respiratory and cardiac arrest and was urgently transported to the hospital for treatment. Although her life was saved, she has remained in a coma for 52 days and is now in a vegetative state.
Seoul News reported that the woman, who is in her 30s, worked for a local small to medium-sized enterprise and was primarily responsible for testing optical lens-related substances. Upon investigation, the police discovered that the liquid she had consumed that day was colorless and odorless hydrofluoric acid. Her colleague, who poured the hydrofluoric acid into the paper cup, will be subjected to further investigation. The police have not yet found any evidence suggesting malicious intent on the colleague’s part.
The police are also examining relevant laws and regulations to determine whether there was any negligence in the management of toxic substances at the company level. A police officer explained, “We are investigating the company on charges of negligence, dereliction of duty, and violation of chemical substance management laws.” After being admitted to the hospital, the woman was connected to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine for dialysis treatment to remove the toxic substances from her body.
The woman’s husband expressed deep sorrow and told the Korean News Agency, “My wife is still unconscious and has been diagnosed as being in a vegetative state. She is now waiting for a miracle.” He described his life since the incident as “living in hell every day.”
