The company's CEO, Kim Jong-hwa, has pledged an extensive overhaul of safety protocols and created an independent committee to review all safety management practices.
SK Energy's top executives, led by CEO Kim Jong-hwa, publicly bowed in apology on October 27, 2025, for a fatal hydrogen explosion that occurred at the company's massive Ulsan refinery ten days prior, on October 17. The devastating incident, which resulted in the deaths of two contract workers and injuries to four others, has triggered a corporate safety shakeup and a multi-pronged government investigation.
The accident took place at the refinery鈥檚 grey hydrogen production unit during maintenance. Subcontractors, mistakenly believing a pipe to be empty, opened it, releasing residual, high-pressure hydrogen gas and causing a catastrophic explosion. Though emergency crews were able to contain the resulting fire within 25 minutes by shutting off valves and cooling nearby infrastructure, the damage had been done.
This public apology was the third from the South Korean oil refining and energy giant since the tragedy. In a strong declaration, CEO Kim Jong-hwa committed to an "unlimited responsibility" to support the families impacted and, more critically, to a fundamental overhaul of the firm鈥檚 safety procedures.
As an immediate consequence, the Chief Safety Officer (CSO) and the Vice-President of the Ulsan Complex were relieved of their duties, with CEO Kim temporarily assuming the CSO role to oversee the initial transition and reform.
The South Korean Ministry of Employment and Labour has launched a formal investigation into the structural causes of the explosion and has also initiated a two-week intensive supervision period of SK Energy鈥檚 safety systems to pinpoint root causes of failure. Separately, the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency is investigating the accident under the strictures of South Korea鈥檚 Serious Accident Punishment Act. Local reports highlight the potential for senior executives to face criminal charges under the Industrial Safety and Health Act should negligence be confirmed.
In a proactive response, SK Energy announced the formation of a Safety Management Innovation Committee. This new body is tasked with reviewing every aspect of the firm鈥檚 safety management. It will be chaired by Professor Park Dal-jae of the Seoul National University of Science and Technology.
The incident has also resonated across the global hydrogen industry. The International Association for Hydrogen Safety (HySafe) released a statement stressing that for hydrogen to fulfill its promise in the clean energy transition, 鈥渟afety leads every step of deployment.鈥� HySafe noted the incident is a powerful reminder that safety in industrial hydrogen operations must be "relentless," spanning from design and verification to maintenance and essential contractor oversight.
