Lee commands reports on industrial fatalities directly from subordinates
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung has taken a decisive approach to address the country's persistently high industrial death rate, particularly in the construction sector, which accounts for nearly half of workplace fatalities.
Following a tragic incident at a construction site that claimed the life of a man in his 50s, President Lee has implemented a series of strong industrial safety measures. These measures aim to significantly reduce workplace fatalities and hold negligent parties accountable.
Key actions include:
- Direct reporting of all fatal industrial accidents to President Lee himself, ensuring immediate attention and accountability.
- Strengthening workplace safety oversight by establishing a special committee to monitor industrial accidents and develop preventive measures.
- Imposing harsh penalties on companies with repeated industrial fatalities, including the potential for permanently revoking bidding qualifications and imposing large fines (up to 3% of annual revenue).
- Holding main contractors accountable for accidents caused by subcontractors, particularly in the construction sector where outsourcing unsafe tasks has been common.
- Cracking down on major construction firms, as exemplified by a large-scale government raid of Posco E&C’s headquarters and subcontractors to accelerate investigations and enforcement.
- Promoting rewards for whistleblowers who report inadequate safety management, encouraging proactive workplace hazard identification.
- Announcing a broader social safety net reform that includes expanded workers' compensation coverage and a five-year goal to reduce Korea’s industrial fatality rate to the OECD average.
President Lee has emphasised a policy of strong enforcement and zero tolerance for negligence, calling industrial deaths “murder by willful negligence” and pushing for legal actions including prosecuting executives for serious accidents. The approach combines strict punitive measures with strengthened social welfare support for workers.
In response to the incident, President Lee has ordered the government to report industrial deaths directly to him as soon as possible. The existing information-sharing system through the National Situation Room will remain in place.
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated that these measures reflect President Lee's strong determination to drastically reduce workplace fatalities. The specific details of the faster reporting mechanism are not yet specified.
Lee has repeatedly called for stronger safety measures and tougher punishment for violators during his first two months in office to root out repeated fatal industrial accidents. The man who died was removing safety nets at the construction site of a new apartment complex in Uijeongbu, 26 kilometers north of Seoul.
President Lee's order aims to enhance worker safety and reduce workplace fatalities, marking a significant step in the country's industrial safety reform. The Cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday will see the Ministry of Labor present the industrial accident prevention framework, follow-up measures, and actions taken so far.
In light of President Lee's stand against negligence, he has instituted stricter measures to ensure business safety, particularly in the industry sector. These initiatives involve direct reporting of industrial fatalities to the President, enhancing workplace safety oversight, and imposing severe penalties on businesses with recurring fatalities, including those in the finance sector due to the potential for large fines and loss of bidding rights. The President's approach aims to reduce workplace fatalities through a combination of strong enforcement and increased social welfare support. To achieve this, President Lee has emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for industrial deaths and ordered the government to expedite the reporting of such incidents, integrating the existing information-sharing system.
