Seoul:Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon has urged officials to adopt a more proactive approach in preventing industrial accidents and safeguarding workers.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the minister conducted an emergency teleconference with senior labor officials nationwide. During the meeting, Kim highlighted the urgency of workplace safety and stressed that companies should be held accountable for serious accidents.

Kim emphasized the necessity of scrutinizing businesses where repeated accidents occur and advocated for stringent actions against employers prioritizing cost-cutting over safety, particularly when fatalities have occurred. He also expressed a commitment to collaborate with the ministry's regional offices and highlighted the upcoming changes under the Labor Inspector Act, effective December 8, which will delegate some inspection authorities to local governments.