Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung has instructed relevant ministries to report all industrial accident fatalities directly to him as quickly as possible. This directive follows his return from vacation, during which he received a report about a worker's fatal fall at an apartment construction site.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee has intensified his criticism of industrial accident deaths and has called for strong measures. He described fatal industrial accidents as "involuntary manslaughter" and proposed measures such as punitive damages and loan restrictions to prevent these deaths. He also suggested that information on such incidents should be disclosed repeatedly to impact the stock prices of related companies, and even mentioned the potential revocation of construction licenses, which would effectively close a construction company. Furthermore, he indicated that the government might seek to revise related laws if necessary.
In a related development, over 80 senior staff members at DL Construction, including the chief executive and other board members, offered their resignations to take responsibility for a subcontractor worker's death from a fall at an apartment construction site. The company has not yet decided how many resignations it will accept and has halted work at all its construction sites.
Similarly, on August 5, following a worker's injury from an electric shock amid a series of industrial accident deaths, the chief executive of Posco E and C resigned. Operations at all the company's construction sites were also stopped. Subsequently, police and labor inspectors from the Ministry of Employment and Labor raided the head offices of Posco E and C and its subcontractors to search for evidence related to industrial accident deaths. The ministry reported industrial death prevention measures to President Lee, including expedited investigations, stronger penalties, and significant increases in penalty surcharges.
The construction industry, already facing a severe business slump, is reportedly gripped by fear of industrial accident fatalities and associated punishments. Construction sites where accidents have occurred have been closed, and some builders are hesitant to bid for new projects.
While investigations and safety checks are crucial to determine the cause of industrial accidents, the shutdown of all work sites and board-wide resignations appear unusual for normal business activities. Halting construction not only affects subcontractors but also impacts the regional economy.
President Lee's suggestion to revoke construction licenses could lead to the dissolution of individual construction companies. If licenses are revoked due to recurring industrial deaths, larger construction companies might ultimately face shutdown, as accidents accumulate over time. The socioeconomic impacts, including job losses and disruption of housing supply, would be significant.
While the president's stern messages aim to raise safety awareness, they may also create an atmosphere of fear. Excessive legislation and daunted business activity could result if the president orders stronger measures after each industrial accident death.
Industrial accidents often occur under unanticipated conditions, and there is a limit to accident prevention. In South Korea, the Serious Accidents Punishment Act holds business owners and top managers criminally accountable for failing to prevent grave industrial accidents, yet deaths still occur. While scare tactics may be briefly effective, they are challenging to sustain.
Ultimately, identifying structural problems of industrial accidents and finding realistic solutions, including safety investment incentives, should take precedence over receiving direct reports and strengthening punishments.