In previous posts, I explored how Imperial Japan glorified Korean Kamikaze pilots in 1945, repackaging their deaths as noble sacrifices for the empire. But the glorification of dead Koreans did not begin at the war’s end—it was already underway earlier, as shown in this 1943 article published in the Keijō Nippo.
TLDR: This report recounts the workplace death of a young Korean metal-factory worker, Mr. Hayashi (Lim), who was fatally burned while attempting to fix a furnace anomaly outside his assigned post. The article turns this preventable industrial accident into a story of patriotic heroism, culminating in a full “factory funeral” and calls for others to “follow in the spirit of Mr. Lim!”
But behind the imperial rhetoric lies a clear case of systemic negligence and serious safety failures: molten material escaping violently, a lack of safety mechanisms, inadequate emergency procedures, and an overreliance on worker improvisation. The propaganda article frames this death as a noble sacrifice and a selfless patriotic act to divert attention away from the real issues: the gross negligence and utter disregard for safety and human life that permeated workplaces in Imperial Japan.
Unfortunately, failures in molten-metal containment still occur in South Korea’s heavy industry, and one worker recently died in circumstances similar to Mr. Lim. On February 28, 2025, a fire broke out at Hyundai Steel’s No. 1 blast furnace plant in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, triggered by a leak of about 300 tons of molten metal. On November 10, 2024, POSCO suspended production at its Pohang facility after a fire broke out at a furnace around 4:20 a.m., injuring one worker. In March 2025, a worker died by falling into a furnace slag pit at a Hyundai Steel plant in Pohang.
[Translation]
Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) October 13, 1943
Follow His Sense of Duty!
Ah! The Flower of the Workplace, Mr. Lim’s Death in the Line of Duty
A moving story of workplace dedication was reported at the regular bureau chief meeting on the 12th by Director Uetaki of the Industrial Development Bureau. A factory worker who had always upheld his responsibilities went beyond his assigned duties to help a coworker in trouble. In doing so, he tragically died, becoming the “flower of the workplace.” To honor his strong sense of duty, the factory held a solemn memorial service to comfort his spirit.
Hayashi (Lim) Shōzaburō, 21 years old, originally from Shōwa-chō, Nonsan-eup, Chungnam Province, was hired on January 4 of this year by the Tōyō Metal Factory in Sinuiju. Assigned to the dehydration plant as a dehydration worker, he quickly gained admiration throughout the factory for his gentle nature, diligence, and exceptional sense of responsibility—he was a model worker who stood out among his peers.
On September 22, he was on the night shift and in charge of Furnace No. 1 at the dehydration plant. His shift ended at 5:30 p.m., and after completing the shutdown procedures, he prepared to go home. At that moment, he noticed an abnormality in the clay sealing area of the slag outlet of Furnace No. 2. Although it was not his assigned post, he could not ignore a potential danger that might affect the entire factory. So, he teamed up with Mr. Lim Hee-jun (림 희준, 林煕俊), the operator in charge of Furnace No. 2, and began emergency clay repair work. Just as they approached the furnace mouth, molten material from the overheated furnace suddenly gushed out.
Mr. Hayashi tried to react immediately, but in an unfortunate twist, he collided with Mr. Lim Hee-jun who was standing behind him. Both fell to the ground and were severely burned on their backs. They were quickly rescued by fellow workers and rushed to the provincial hospital.
While Mr. Lim Hee-jun fortunately survived, Mr. Shōzaburō Hayashi’s condition worsened. As he declined, he was surrounded by his elder brother Tokutarō and his wife, the factory director, department heads, and fellow workers. As his death approached, he whispered in gratitude, “I am a fortunate man to be cared for by so many. I am content even in death.” On October 1, at 11:00 p.m., he finally passed away in the line of duty.
That night saw a fierce thunderstorm. As he neared his final breath, Mr. Hayashi said, “What a storm… the people at the plant must be struggling. I hope they can carry on their work safely.” Even at the very end when taking his last breaths, his thoughts were only for his work and his comrades, and the strength of his sense of duty moved everyone at his bedside to tears.
Tōyō Metal mourned the loss of such an excellent worker during this time of national struggle. On the afternoon of October 3 at 4:00 p.m., a solemn factory funeral was held near the site of his death, attended by all factory workers including the director. They praised his industrial spirit, and all those present vowed, “Follow in the spirit of Mr. Lim!” and to further redouble their efforts in boosting production.
[Transcription]
京城日報 1943年10月13日
この責任感に続け
ああ！職場の華、林君の殉職
自己の持場を守り徹した工員が隣人の持場の危機救援に赴いて遂に尊くも職場の華と散ったが、その旺盛な責任感を讃えて、この程工場葬を以て厚く故人の霊を慰めたという職場感激談が十二日の定例局長会議席上で上滝殖産局長から報告された。
忠南論山邑昭和町出身林正三郎君（２１）は本年一月四日東洋金属新義州工場に採用され脱水工場に脱水工員として勤務、資性温順、精励格勤、責任感旺盛な模範工員として全工場に異彩を放って来た。
九月二十二日はたまたま夜勤となり脱水工場第一号炉を担当。午後五時三十分夜勤を終了昇温操作を終って帰途についた。そのとき第二号炉のスラグ取出口の装填粘土部に異状を発見した同君は自分の持場でないとはいえ全工場のため見捨てでは置けないと第二号炉担当の林煕俊君と協力、応急措置として粘土作業をなすべく炉口に立った刹那、炉熱の溶液が猛然漏出して来た。同君は間髪を入れず身を転じたのであったが、運悪く背後にいた林煕俊君と衝突二人ともその場に顛倒。無残にも背中一杯に大火傷を受け馳せつけた工場員に助けられて道立病院に担ぎ込まれた。
林煕俊君は幸いにも一命をとり止めたが林正三郎君の経過は悪く兄徳太郎さん夫妻をはじめ工場長、課長、同僚工員などに見護れながら次第に危篤に陥入った。死期近づいた同君は、『こんなに皆様のお世話になって私は幸福者です。死んでも満足です』と苦しい息の下から感謝していたが十月一日午後十一時遂いに殉職した。同夜は大雷雨の日であったが林君は『大嵐だな。現場の人たちは困っているだろう。うまく仕事が出来ると宜いがなあ』と息を引きとる間際まで工場と仕事とのことのみを思い続けその責任感の旺盛なのに枕頭の人々を泣かしめたのであった。東洋金属では決戦下かかる優秀な工員を事故のため失ったことを痛惜。三日午後四時から林徳三郎君の殉職現場付近で工場長以下全工員参集してしめやかな工場葬を営み同君の産業魂を讃え参列工員もまた『林君の精神に続け』とますます生産増強に邁進を誓ったのである。
Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive
submitted by /u/tpjv86b
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