On January 18, a fire broke out in the butane gas filling plant of Taeyang (located at West Ward of Cheonan City, South Chungcheong Province) which is the largest butane gas cartridge manufacturer of Korea. The fire burned down eight buildings (approx.16,000 sq. meter) out of 28 buildings (approx. 36,000 sq. meter) and was extinguished after six hours of burning, according to the report of some Korean media. Though there was no human suffering, the damage amounted to 1.9 billion won (equivalent to about 206.5 million JPY). The cause is under investigation now by the local fire department and the police.

Taeyang is the largest Korean company engaged in filling of butane gas into gas cartridges for portable burners and lighters enjoying a market share close to 70%, and also exports the cartridge cans actively to Japan although there is no detail about the number of cartridge exported to Japan. As the fire broke out in the busiest season of demand for gas cartridges for portable cooking stoves in the winter season. It is feared to cause a tight supply condition of gas cartridges for portable cooking stoves.

In Korea oxygen deficiency accidents also occurred in succession during the period from last year end to the beginning of this year, killing three operators in the 3rd plant of New Kori Nuclear Plant and two at LG Display, Paju, as reported by the local media.

At about 5:18 p.m. on December 26 last year nitrogen gas leaked on the construction site of the 3rd plant of New Kori Nuclear Plant (Ulsan City) killing three operators. The accident occurred in the underground of an auxiliary building for the Nuclear Plant where the operators had been checking the cable penetrating part. The cause is under investigation by the police and the local fire department now. For information the 3rd plant of New Kori Nuclear Power Plant will be completed and put into operation in the coming June.

At about 12:50 on January 12, a nitrogen gas leakage accident occurred in P-8 Building of Paju Plant of LG Display, killing two operators with the serious injury of one and slight injury of three operators. The operators were doing periodical maintenance works carrying oxygen measuring equipment with the equipment chamber open. They say nitrogen gas for purging leaked and caused the fatal accident, but a thorough probe in detail should be made.

The production line of P-8 plant seems to have been out of operation until the cause is clarified. In Japan oxygen deficiency accidents are taking place in tanks or manholes continuously, but there are few cases of fatal accidents caused by the leakage of nitrogen gas. For that reason alone, a thorough investigation to determine the cause is eagerly awaited.