SPC Group, the large conglomerate in the Korean food industry and the parent company of the global bakery chain 'Paris Baguette' is receiving further criticisms as it was found that the company sent two boxes of bread to the funeral home of the factory worker that died after beingcaught in a sauce mixer.

Back on October 15, a young female factory worker (age 23) died in an accident at a bread-making factory after her body got caught in a sauce mixer. After investigations, it was found that this accident could have been prevented if adequate safety protocols had been in place. Additionally, the unfair treatment of workers was revealed.

With this, many South Koreans are boycotting all products being produced by the SPC Group. Amidst the boycott and criticisms, SPC Group added fuel to the fire after they sent two boxes of Paris Baguette bread to the funeral home of the worker that died in the factory that made those pastries.

The bereaving family members expressed their sorrows and anger after receiving those pastries and explained in an interview with the media, "She died while working at SPC factory while making those pastries. Does it make sense that the company sent us those pastries to give it out to the attendees at her funeral? How can they do this?" According to SPC, the bread boxes are a support gift sent to all employee funerals or events. Hence, it was sent out as a protocol this time as well.

Nevertheless, anger also spread to netizens in online communities. Many were baffled and commented, "I mean even if it's a support gift that is sent out to all employees, this is too harsh," "Are the heads on their shoulders for decoration? because they sent pastry from the factory where she died," "Imagine how the bereaving family will feel when they see those pastries,"  "I definitely don't want to buy bread from them anymore. Makes me sick I don't want to even look at them," "This is so serious," "Gives me goosebumps about how they sent bread to the funeral home of the employee that died in the SPC bread factory. Also, it's red bean bread," "They wouldn't have done that if they paid a little more attention," and "I feel so bad for the person who died at SPC."

Civil society groups also strongly criticized the company's thoughtlessness and disregard for the emotion of the bereaved family. Moreover, many are also criticizing the management's apology to the victim and her family, and the promise to prevent this recurrence sounds insincere.

Jo Jung Geon, executive director of the Civil Society Foundation, a civic group in Pyeongtaek, said, "At the funeral, they need to consider those who have been hurt. The bereaving family are the people who lost a family member due to the bad system in the factory. The company should not only think about the company protocol to send support gifts to funerals."

He also urged that SPC sincerely apologize to the family and explained, "The pastry is something that symbolizes their sadness and pain. It has become a trauma to them. The company should sincerely apologize."

Kim Ki Hong, chairman of the Pyeongtaek Anseong Regional Trade Union of the KCTU, also said, "It is very rude to send bread made at the production place where the accident happened, in a situation where there was no sincere apology to the bereaved family. Are you trying to kill them twice?" He added, “Even if it was according to company custom, it was an act that was not thoughtful for the bereaved family."

Regarding the controversy, SPC said, "When an employee has a death in the family, we are providing additional bread along with funeral goods. We apologize to the bereaving family for being unable to pay detailed attention."