"Watching as if broadcasting the moment of suffocation"... Crushed and broken 'Cheongnyeon Laborer'

Young Workers Who Lost Their Lives Working Alone in Dangerous Environments
Despite the Passage of the 'Kim Yong-gyun Act' and the 'Serious Accident Punishment Act', Industrial Accidents Continue
Total of 882 Industrial Accident Deaths in 2020
"My Brother Must Have Died Instantly Without a Cry of 'Evil'" - Families' Anger
Experts: "Many Workers Are Still Exposed to Danger"

The FRC (open-type container) at Pyeongtaek Port Wharf in Gyeonggi where the late Lee Seon-ho's accident occurred. / Photo by the Late Lee Seon-ho Industrial Accident Death Countermeasures Committee

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Crushed, trapped, and hit?this has been the cause of death for young workers who lost their lives in industrial sites since 2016. All of them collapsed while working alone in hazardous labor environments.

Despite several legislative measures enacted to prevent the recurrence of industrial accidents, such as the 'Kim Yong-gyun Act' last year and the 'Serious Accident Punishment Act' this year, there are still criticisms that these efforts are insufficient. The number of industrial accident fatalities actually increased compared to the previous year.

Bereaved families and citizens are expressing their outrage. They are demanding to know how long young workers must continue to lose their lives at workplaces.

◆Mr. Lee Seon-ho, who died after being crushed by a 300kg container

On the 22nd of last month, at the new container terminal in Pyeongtaek Port, Gyeonggi Province, the late Lee Seon-ho (23) lost his life while working alone inside an FRC (foldable wing-type open container).

At the time, he was organizing wooden plywood pieces on one wing of the FRC. Meanwhile, a forklift working on the opposite side folded the container wing, and due to the recoil, the container wing on Lee’s side folded and collapsed. An object weighing approximately 300kg fell on Lee, trapping him underneath.

At the accident scene, no safety manager or signal operator was assigned, and Lee was reportedly not provided with any safety equipment. As it was Lee’s first time working with the FRC, he had not received any prior safety training or manuals.

A photo of the empty funeral hall of Lee Seon-ho, posted on June 6th by Kim Deuk-jung, head of the Ssangyong Motor Branch, on his social media account. / Photo by Twitter Capture

It was also revealed that Lee did not receive emergency treatment after the accident. Lee’s father, Lee Jae-hoon, appeared on CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show' on the 10th and said, “The site supervisor did not call 119 (emergency services) immediately after the accident but reported to higher-ups first. A foreigner who was with him tried to lift the wing that was pressing on my son while telling others to call 119, but he injured his back. It showed the extremes of human nature.”

He continued, “The employees at the site reported my son’s dying state as if broadcasting it live. It was too horrific and cruel,” expressing his anger. According to Lee Jae-hoon, Lee was left trapped under the 300kg object for several tens of minutes at the site and eventually died.

◆Trapped in machines, hit by trains... the unending tragedies of young workers

This is not the first time a young worker has lost their life while working alone in dangerous conditions.

In December 2018, the late Kim Yong-gyun died while working alone at the Taean Thermal Power Plant in Chungnam Province. Kim was scraping coal accumulated under a conveyor belt inside the dark power plant when he got caught in the machinery and died.

In May 2016, 19-year-old Kim, an employee of a subcontractor for Seoul Metro, was hit by a train and died while maintaining screen doors alone at Guui Station in Seoul.

On the afternoon of May 27, 2019, memorial notes written by citizens for the 3rd anniversary of 'Guui Station Kim' are attached to the platform of Guui Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Following Kim Yong-gyun’s accident, the National Assembly passed the amendment to the Industrial Safety and Health Act, known as the 'Kim Yong-gyun Act,' on December 26, 2018. This law prohibits in-house subcontracting for high-risk and hazardous tasks and strengthens penalties for employers who violate safety measures.

On January 8, the Serious Accident Punishment Act was passed by the National Assembly plenary session, holding management accountable when serious accidents, including fatalities, occur at workplaces.

Despite these legislative efforts, some point out that many workers are still being pushed to death. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s '2020 Industrial Accident Fatality Statistics,' there were 882 industrial accident deaths last year, an increase of 27 compared to 2019. This indicates that the number of workers dying from industrial accidents in Korea is still not decreasing.

◆"I feel guilty for pushing my son into danger"?bereaved families’ outcry

Given this situation, families who lost children or siblings to industrial accidents are voicing their anger.

A netizen who identified herself as Lee’s second older sister wrote on an online community, “(Lee) earned his own pocket money by working part-time so he wouldn’t have to ask our parents for money,” expressing her sorrow, “But I never imagined he would leave us so suddenly.”

She added, “He was a kind younger brother who took care of the family first and looked after our sick older sister well, but the company denies that the supervisor ever gave orders. They blame my brother for not wearing a safety helmet. Even if he had worn one, if an object weighing over 300kg fell, my brother would have died instantly without even a scream,” she vented her frustration.

In 2019, citizens attending the 3rd National Memorial Ceremony for Kim Yong-gyun in front of the King Sejong Statue in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, are marching while holding candles, placards, and chrysanthemums. / Photo by Yonhap News

Lee’s father, Lee Jae-hoon, said in a radio interview on the 10th, “I tried to raise my son to be strong, but I feel a lot of guilt for pushing him into danger,” and urged, “I hope this will be the last industrial accident fatality. Those responsible should make sure no more victims come out.”

Citizens also raised their voices to prevent workers from losing their lives due to industrial accidents. Mrs. A (58), a housewife with a child working at a small manufacturing company, said, “Every time I see news about worker deaths, I worry about my son working at the site,” expressing her heartfelt wish, “I hope parents can send their children to work with peace of mind.”

Mr. B (32), an office worker, said, “How long must young people in their 20s continue to be sacrificed to cut operating costs?” and called for “stricter measures to prevent industrial accident recurrences.”

Experts suggested that efforts are needed to create a work environment where workers can work safely.

Jung Woo-jun, Secretary-General of the Labor Health Solidarity, said, “Despite the enactment of various laws to prevent outsourcing of risks, many workers are still exposed to dangerous labor environments and work under unfavorable conditions,” advising, “In this situation, the government must go beyond simply applying laws and strive to create a work environment where workers can work more stably and safely.”

He emphasized, “The key will be whether realistic policies can be implemented by listening to the opinions of workers actually working in hazardous sites and properly addressing problematic factors.”