There were reportedly seven workers who were suspected of being exposed to radiation at the site of Seoul Semiconductor's radiation exposure accident, not six previously known. Workers suspected of exposure this time are employees of a service provider handling radiation equipment that tests the quality of manufactured semiconductors.
According the report submitted to the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission and National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee Chairman Noh Woong-rae (Rep. of Democratic Party of Korea), there was one worker on the site besides the six workers who were examined for suspected exposure at the time of the radiation exposure accident at Seoul Semiconductor, the Yonhap News Agency said on Aug. 18.
On Aug. 16, just two days ago, the commission announced that six patients were suspected of exposure at the time of the accident.
The accident was made known when two of those suspected of exposure visited the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences on Aug. 5. The two were tested for chromosomal abnormality after abnormalities such as red spots, pain and fever were found on the skin of their fingers.
The results of the test will be released on Aug. 20. The rest of the workers were reported to have no symptoms, and blood tests showed that all six were normal. The results of a further examination of an additionally suspected worker will be released on Aug. 20.
Seoul Semiconductor is South Korea's biggest company in LED and display semiconductor field. The accident occurred because the radiation generator of the equipment used to inspect semiconductor defects was not used in accordance with safety regulations. This radiation device shall not emit radiation for safety when the door of the inspection equipment is opened.