Tragedy and Outrage: Koreans Rally to Boycott Paris Baguette Over Mishandled Employee Death
In response to the tragic death of a 23-year-old employee found in a mixing machine, Koreans are rallying to boycott Paris Baguette, a popular bakery chain, citing the mishandling of the incident.
The young woman, on duty during her graveyard shift at the Pyeongtaek factory in Gyeonggi province, met her demise when her upper body became ensnared in the mixing machine on October 14. Her colleagues made the grisly discovery of her crushed body the following day.
Rather than halting operations, the factory resumed production immediately. Shockingly, other workers who witnessed the horrifying scene were compelled to continue working near the accident site.
Critics argue that such machinery should be operated by a minimum of two individuals. The company’s perceived callous response to the tragedy has sparked widespread outrage, leading to nationwide protests and calls to boycott Paris Baguette and its parent company, SPC Group, headquartered in Seoul.
The outrage intensified upon learning that the company attempted to settle with the victim’s parents on the night of her funeral, offering compensation in exchange for refraining from legal action. However, the mother rejected the offer and sought legal representation.
Adding insult to injury, Paris Baguette sent bread to the funeral attendees, a gesture deemed insensitive by many, considering the circumstances of the young woman’s death.
Reports also emerged of a prior accident involving another employee in a different production line just a week before the fatal incident. Despite the injury, the employee, classified as non-full-time, was not promptly sent to the hospital.
In response, citizens and labor activists organized protests and memorial ceremonies, including one-person demonstrations outside numerous Paris Baguette stores. Social media has also been ablaze with calls to boycott the company.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the employee’s death, emphasizing the need for mutual respect between employers and employees.
In light of public outcry, SPC Group chairman Huh Young-in issued a public apology and vowed to allocate 100 billion won (approximately $70 million) towards improving worker safety over the next three years.
Local reports indicate that the boycott has impacted SPC stores’ business, with sales reportedly dropping by up to 30% in some areas.
Paris Baguette, with over 4,000 global locations, has ambitious expansion plans, aiming to operate 1,000 stores in the U.S. by 2030.