Korean man killed by co-worker, not exploding phone

Reuben Lee | Nov 30, 2007

The recent exploding phone incident in Korea has TV drama CSI written all over it. We earlier reported on a man in Korea (known as Seo) who was presumably killed by an exploding mobile phone battery. However, as investigations proceeded, it turned out that the co-worker (known as Kwon) who first reported the incident was actually the one behind the victim's death.

Kwon had apparently run over Seo accidentally while backing up a hydraulic drill rig. When he got down to check, he found Seo on the ground bleeding with his clothes on fire. In order to cover up his negligence, he lied to the police saying the phone battery had exploded and killed his co-worker. At that time, an autopsy on Seo revealed that the explosion might have presumably damaged his heart and lungs and killed him. It is now not known if the phone caught fire under pressure or was purposely set on fire by Kwon.

Meanwhile, LG has issued a press statement saying that the Lithium-polymer battery used in most mobile phones has been tested as safe for consumer use. A spokesperson also added that Lithium-polymer batteries, unlike Lithium-ion batteries, cannot suddenly explode.

Via Digital Chosunilbo and Sydney Morning Herald

Filed under: Mobile Phones
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