Ministry of Employment: "Late Lee Seon-ho Death Accident, Possibility of Illegal Dispatch... Under Investigation"

Person in Charge During Relocation Criminally Charged... Minister of Employment "Strict Punishment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Amid the ongoing investigation into the death of young worker the late Lee Seon-ho at Pyeongtaek Port last April, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 7th that there is a "possibility of illegal dispatch" between the primary contractor Dongbang and the subcontractor to which Lee belonged.

Kim Gyuseok, Director of the Industrial Accident Prevention and Compensation Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said at a briefing held at the Government Sejong Complex on the same day, "There is a possibility of illegal dispatch in the contractual relationship between Dongbang and 'Woori Inryeok' (the subcontractor Lee belonged to)," adding, "We will continue related investigations, including witness interviews with Woori Inryeok personnel."

Lee died on the afternoon of April 22 while removing wooden fixtures used to secure cargo inside an 'FR container' (a container fixed only at the front and back without a ceiling) at Pyeongtaek Port. A forklift folded the left wall panel, causing the right wall panel to collapse and trap him underneath.

According to the Accident Countermeasures Committee, at the time of the accident, an employee of the primary contractor instructed Lee to perform the wood removal task. Lee’s assigned duty was plant and animal quarantine. A Ministry of Employment and Labor official stated, "It is understood that there was a comprehensive work instruction from the primary contractor regarding the task."

In the briefing, Director Kim mentioned not only the suspicion of illegal dispatch by Dongbang but also shortcomings in on-site countermeasures and special inspections of ports.

He cited the causes of the accident as follows: failure to take measures to prevent the container walls from toppling, such as installing fixing pins; failure to provide appropriate signals or guidance to prevent accidents when multiple people handle heavy objects; and inappropriate use of the forklift. It was also pointed out that Dongbang did not provide protective gear to Lee and did not prepare a work plan for the task. According to relevant regulations, hazardous work must be conducted according to a detailed work plan. Director Kim emphasized, "We plan to complete the investigation within this week and file criminal charges against those responsible," adding, "We will take strict action against any legal violations."

In this regard, the police have also filed charges against five Dongbang employees, including for professional negligence resulting in death, and are conducting an investigation. When worker fatalities occur, both the police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor investigate, with the ministry mainly examining violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act. Shortly after the accident, on April 26-27, the ministry conducted an industrial safety and health inspection of Dongbang’s Pyeongtaek branch, uncovering 17 violations and imposing fines totaling 19.3 million won.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor, together with related agencies such as the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, is conducting special inspections at the five major ports nationwide, including Pyeongtaek, Busan, Incheon, Yeosu-Gwangyang, and Ulsan. Among 22 container cargo handling and operating companies at these ports, 18 have been inspected. Authorities issued 193 corrective orders and imposed fines totaling 130 million won. Numerous legal violations were found, including failure to secure essential safety passageways and install fall-prevention safety facilities. Several cases of handling heavy cargo without a work plan were also confirmed.

Additionally, the ministry is conducting special inspections of Dongbang’s nationwide branches. Among 15 branches, inspections at 9 have been completed. The ministry identified 57 violations, took legal action, and imposed fines exceeding 40 million won.

Minister of Employment and Labor Ahn Kyung-duk stated, "As promised to the bereaved family and the countermeasures committee, we will thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident and strictly punish those responsible."