Seoul: The head of POSCO E and C, the construction branch of South Korea's foremost steelmaker POSCO Group, submitted his resignation on Tuesday, shouldering the responsibility for a succession of fatal industrial mishaps.
According to Yonhap News Agency, POSCO E and C President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jeong Hee-min expressed a profound sense of accountability for the recurrent fatal safety incidents that occurred under his leadership in an official statement.
Jeong's decision to resign was announced shortly after a Myanmar national in his 30s suffered critical injuries and lost consciousness due to a suspected electrocution accident at an expressway construction site in Gwangmyeong, located 20 kilometers south of Seoul. This incident marked the fourth fatal accident this year at construction sites managed by POSCO E and C.
Jeong remarked, "POSCO E and C does not view this incident as a simple safety management failure, but as a grave warning that demands fundamental reform and thorough reflection on all aspects of the company's operations." He emphasized the need for a comprehensive shift towards a site-centered, self-regulating safety culture that involves all employees and subcontractors, aiming to rebuild public trust and achieve sustainable growth.
The recent accident took place merely a week after the company announced an indefinite halt to all construction activities on July 29, following the death of a worker at a highway project in Uiryeong, approximately 300 kilometers south of Seoul. The worker, a man in his 60s, succumbed to injuries after being trapped in a drilling machine during slope reinforcement work.
In response to the recurring accidents, POSCO Group unveiled a company-wide special safety task force on Friday, aiming to bolster safety management across all operations. This task force will undertake a thorough review of safety protocols and practices across the group's steel, energy materials, and infrastructure sectors.
Furthermore, on Tuesday, the Federation of Construction Associations (FCA) declared its intention to establish a similar task force dedicated to eradicating industrial accidents at construction sites. This initiative will be executed in close collaboration with central and local governments, as well as the construction industry.
During a Cabinet meeting held on July 29, President Lee Jae Myung addressed the recent accidents, describing fatal workplace incidents as "murder by willful negligence." He urged Cabinet members to develop strategies to prevent industrial accidents.