25.04.12.Today News : Theborn Korea Under Official Probe by Labor Ministry / Gwangmyeong collapse rescues one stranded person

1. Theborn Korea Under Official Probe by Labor Ministry

The Cheonan branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor has been assigned to investigate the recent controversy involving Theborn Korea’s so-called "drinking interview." The investigation will focus on whether the company violated the Fair Hiring Procedure Act by coercing job candidates, and whether the incident constitutes workplace harassment under the Labor Standards Act. Two officials have been assigned, and the findings could be available within 30 days.

As of the 11th, the Cheonan branch confirmed that investigators have been appointed to the case. One official will examine potential violations of the Fair Hiring Procedure Act, while another labor inspector will investigate the harassment allegations.

The Gangnam branch of the Ministry initially received the complaint on April 8, citing suspicions that Theborn Korea violated hiring laws and allowed harassment during the interview process. Upon discovering that Theborn Korea also operates in Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province—where the incident occurred—the complaint was transferred to the Cheonan office, which has jurisdiction over the region.

The Cheonan branch assigned the case immediately after receiving it. Typically, investigations related to hiring law violations and workplace harassment must be concluded within 30 days, but that period can be extended depending on the complexity of the case.

A spokesperson for the branch stated, "Two departments will handle the investigation in accordance with the relevant laws. Based on the complaint, we will establish the facts and determine if any violations occurred before reporting the results."

On April 7, JTBC's program Incident Chief reported that a department head from Theborn Korea summoned a job applicant to a drinking session under the pretense of a second interview. The event was held while recruiting store managers for the company’s branch at Yesan Traditional Market.

During the meeting, the manager insisted the applicant drink with him, saying, "I canceled another drinking engagement to be here, so you should drink with me." He also asked inappropriate personal questions, such as "Do you have a boyfriend? Because you shouldn't," and "I hired someone with a boyfriend before and it caused problems—that’s why we do this kind of personality test."

He is also alleged to have touched the applicant’s thigh during another drinking session with final-stage store manager candidates.

Theborn Korea has since removed the manager from duty and stated, “We take this matter very seriously.”

One-line summary : The Cheonan branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor is investigating Theborn Korea over allegations of coercive hiring practices and workplace harassment related to a drinking interview.

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2. Gwangmyeong Sinsan Line collapse rescues one stranded person

A man in his 20s who was trapped under debris for over 13 hours following a tunnel collapse at the Sinansan Line construction site in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, has been rescued. Another worker in his 50s remains missing.

According to fire authorities, at 4:27 a.m. on April 12, excavator operator Mr. Kim (28), who had been trapped 30 meters underground at the site in Iljik-dong, was successfully rescued. He had been stuck in a small void among the collapsed debris and maintained phone communication with rescuers during the overnight operation.

Though not in life-threatening condition, Kim is undergoing detailed medical examinations after being cramped for an extended period.

The collapse occurred on April 11 at around 3:13 p.m. in section 5-2 of the dual-track Sinansan Line tunnel near Yangji Intersection, at a depth of 30 meters. The upper six-lane road also bent and sank dramatically. The Sinansan Line, connecting Seoul’s Yeouido with Ansan and Siheung in Gyeonggi Province, began construction in September 2019 and is still underway.

Kim was the first to be rescued. Despite being able to communicate via phone, the depth of the collapse and the presence of heavy construction debris made rescue operations challenging.

One other worker in his 50s remains unaccounted for. Fire authorities are using phone tracking to locate him.

At the time of the accident, safety inspections were being conducted by the construction company and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. Of the 18 workers present at the site, 16 were evacuated or rescued.

Signs of the collapse reportedly began early in the morning, around 12:30 a.m., when a contractor reported cracks forming on several interior tunnel columns. The city of Gwangmyeong subsequently requested police assistance to block off a 1km stretch of road near the tunnel.

Ms. Lee Kyung-sook (56), who was in a nearby restaurant at the time, said, "While washing dishes, I heard a loud bang and the power went out. Then an even louder noise followed, and something collapsed massively." Another resident, Mr. Kwon Joo-yong (74), added, "The site collapsed all at once with a loud thud. The dust was thick, and our building shook violently."

Gwangmyeong City evacuated more than 2,300 residents and nearby business users to eight temporary shelters, including local gymnasiums. Gas supply was shut off, and the surrounding area remains under control to prevent further collapses or secondary accidents.

One-line summary : A worker in his 20s who was trapped in the collapsed tunnel at the Sinansan Line construction site in Gwangmyeong was rescued after 13 hours, while another remains missing.