First Cabinet Meeting Presided... "Thorough Preparation for Enforcement of Serious Accident Punishment Act in January Next Year"
President Moon Does Not Mention 'Basic Principles of Real Estate Measures' Requested
Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum speaking at the Cabinet meeting held on the morning of the 18th at Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall, connected via video with the Seoul and Sejong government offices. (Photo by Yonhap News)
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced at the first Cabinet meeting he presided over on the 18th that "in the second half of the year, we will launch the 'Industrial Safety and Health Headquarters' to further strengthen the foundation for preventing industrial accidents."
At the meeting held at Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall that day, Prime Minister Kim said, "Recently, tragic and heartbreaking accidents have occurred one after another, where workers died while working at Pyeongtaek Port in Gyeonggi Province, shipyards in Ulsan, and steelworks in Dangjin," adding, "These were all incidents that could have been prevented if only basic safety rules had been properly followed."
He then pledged, "While thoroughly preparing for the enforcement of the 'Serious Accidents Punishment Act' scheduled to take effect in January next year, we will solidify the foundation for industrial accident prevention with the launch of the headquarters in the second half of the year."
He stated, "Even before the law is enforced, we will strengthen guidance and supervision of workplaces to improve the level and awareness of safety management at industrial sites," and urged, "I repeatedly ask the labor and management sectors to work together for immediate change."
In addition, he mentioned ▲appealing to the public for cooperation in COVID-19 vaccination ▲promoting a leading and low-carbon economic transition ▲pursuing a strong reform of the public service sector ▲efforts to ensure transparency in virtual asset transactions. He did not mention the basic principles related to real estate measures requested by President Moon Jae-in the previous day.
Prime Minister Kim visited Gwangju that day to attend the May 18 Democratic Movement memorial ceremony. He said, "I vividly remember the spirit of sharing and solidarity that the citizens of Gwangju showed by taking the lead when Daegu and Gyeongbuk faced great difficulties due to COVID-19 last year," adding, "As someone who was a citizen of Daegu at that time, I feel very honored to now visit Gwangju as the Prime Minister."
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