Court rules manufacturer liable for explosion of decade

A local court ordered a fridge manufacturing company to compensate an insurance firm for damages incurred by an explosion of a kimchi refrigerator that was purchased more than 10 years ago, officials said.

Upholding the previous ruling, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of an insurance company, which filed a suit against Dayou Winia Co. seeking compensation for some 43 million won ($37,210) it paid to the victims.

It was in March 2014 that the fridge, manufactured and purchased in 2003, exploded and started a fire. The owner's house and three neighboring ones were damaged. No casualties were reported.

The National Forensic Service concluded that a short circuit caused the fire.

The fridge maker, however, claimed that it is not responsible for a product sold more than 10 years ago, citing local law.

The court, however, said it is not a socially accepted notion to assume that a kimchi refrigerator could cause a fire after being used for 10 years.

It also said that out of the 22 cases of fires that were started by kimchi refrigerators with more than 10 years of use, 20 were made by the defendant.

Taking into consideration that the fridge had never gone through safety inspections, the court ordered the manufacturer to compensate the insurance company 50 percent of the amount claimed. (Yonhap)

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