[Edaily Kim Sang-yoon Reporter Hwang Byung-seo] On the 12th, President Lee Jae-myung described allegations that workers at an automotive battery factory were repeatedly administered injections containing heavy metals—which were falsely presented as “vitamin shots”—as “a grave human rights violation that is absolutely unacceptable” and ordered a stern response.

Kang Yu-jeong, Senior Spokesperson for the Blue House, stated during a briefing that day that President Lee issued these instructions after receiving a report on the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s response to related media reports and its future plans.

Chief Spokesperson Kang reported that President Lee strongly criticized the factory for passing a workplace environmental assessment by resorting to underhanded tactics that endangered workers’ health, even though lead levels exceeding five times the standard limit were detected during the production process.

He continued, “It is a grave human rights violation that cannot be tolerated—a company, which should protect workers’ lives and health, concealed the risks of side effects while forcing workers to receive injections and covered up their exposure to hazardous substances,” and ordered a strict response.

President Lee ordered the Ministry of Employment and Labor and investigative agencies to thoroughly investigate the extent of hazardous substance exposure at the facility, the circumstances surrounding the administration of injections, and whether health examination results were concealed, and to take strict measures in accordance with the law if any violations are found.

He also urged authorities to closely examine the possibility of similar cases occurring at other workplaces that undermine occupational safety and health systems, and to make every effort to protect workers’ health and human rights.

Previously, MBC reported that workers at the DN Automotive Ulsan plant were periodically receiving “chelation” injections—designed to flush heavy metals from the blood into the urine—ahead of mandatory health checkups, and that some workers believed these were vitamin injections.

Internal company documents obtained by MBC contained lists of workers eligible for additional injections, as well as the frequency and schedule of treatments for each worker. MBC reported that it appeared the company was attempting to lower workers’ blood lead levels to avoid falling under government oversight and regulation.

The company maintains that the injections were voluntary and not mandatory. However, some workers claimed that the company told them their lead levels were high and ordered them to take unpaid leave to receive the injections.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has confirmed similar allegations regarding medication at a lead-acid battery factory in Gwangju and is currently investigating the matter.