Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung has mandated that all industrial deaths be reported directly to him as promptly as possible, with the aim of enhancing worker safety and reducing workplace fatalities, his office announced.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee issued this directive after returning from his summer vacation, following the tragic death of a man in his 50s who fell while removing safety nets at a construction site in Uijeongbu, 26 kilometers north of Seoul. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung conveyed to reporters that the president wants a quicker reporting mechanism in place, even as the existing system through the National Situation Room continues to operate.
Lee has tasked the Ministry of Labor with presenting a comprehensive industrial accident prevention framework, along with follow-up measures and actions taken to date, at the upcoming Cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday. Kang emphasized that these initiatives underline the president's firm commitment to significantly diminishing workplace fatalities.
During his first two months in office, President Lee has consistently advocated for stronger safety protocols and harsher penalties for safety violations. On July 29, he strongly criticized recent fatal accidents at POSCO E and C worksites, describing them as "murder through willful negligence" during a Cabinet meeting.
Despite President Lee's directives for preventive measures, another industrial accident took place at a POSCO E and C site on August 4. A Myanmar national in his 30s suffered critical injuries and lost consciousness due to suspected electrocution at an expressway construction site in Gwangmyeong, 20 kilometers south of Seoul. This incident marked the fourth fatal accident this year at sites managed by the builder.
In response to the continuing fatalities, President Lee has ordered officials to explore stringent punitive actions to deter future incidents. Potential measures include revoking the company's construction license, barring it from participating in public tenders, and imposing punitive damages.