Memorial Ceremony for the 6th Anniversary of Guui Station Kim's Death... "Yoon Ultimately Did Not Attend, We Will Go to Yongsan Office"

Unions Say "New Government Tries to Roll Back Serious Accident Punishment Act"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] On the 6th anniversary of the death of 'Guui Station Kim,' who died while repairing subway screen doors, civic groups held a memorial ceremony on the 28th.

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' Public Transport and Social Service Workers' Union held a memorial ceremony at the Guui Station 9-4 platform on Subway Line 2, where Kim died in the accident. They criticized, "Every year we come here and vow to create a workplace where no one gets hurt or dies, but the labor environment has not changed."

They also said, "We asked President Yoon Seok-yeol to meet us today at Guui Station, but he ultimately did not come out," adding, "We will go to the Yongsan Presidential Office."

People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon is paying respects and posting a memorial message on the 28th before the 6th anniversary memorial ceremony and citizen safety pledge event at Guui Station 9-4 in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on Line 2. Oh paid respects in advance and did not attend the 6th anniversary memorial ceremony.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Attendees placed white chrysanthemums in front of the 9-4 platform and attached Post-it notes honoring Kim to the screen door 'Memorial Wall,' followed by a moment of silence.

Hyun Jeong-hee, Chairperson of the Public Transport Workers' Union, said, "Although the Industrial Safety and Health Act was amended and the Serious Accident Punishment Act was enacted, those responsible for creating conditions for serious accidents are not properly punished, and the new government is trying to roll back even this," raising her voice to say, "We must stop the outsourcing of death."

Following this, in front of the second-floor ticket gate at Guui Station, a 6th anniversary memorial ceremony for the Guui Station disaster and a 'Life and Safety Citizen Pledge Ceremony' for Seoul mayoral candidates were held, hosted by the Public Transport Workers' Union, the Rail Council, and the Seoul Metro Union.

The memorial ceremony was also attended by families of industrial accident victims, including the wife of Lee Dong-woo, a subcontracted irregular worker at Dongkuk Steel who died after being entangled in a crane safety belt.

At the Life and Safety Citizen Pledge Ceremony, Seoul mayoral candidates were asked to implement the recommendations of the Guui Station Truth Investigation Team, nationalize urban rail transit under Seoul city, convert irregular workers under Seoul city to regular positions and improve their treatment, form a labor-management-government safety committee, declare Seoul Safety Day, and enact safety ordinances. Candidates Song Young-gil of the Democratic Party, Kwon Su-jeong of the Justice Party, and Shin Ji-hye of the Basic Income Party attended. According to group officials, Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon reportedly visited the site early in the morning.

Candidate Song said, "I still recall the cup noodles in Kim's bag," and added, "Mayor Oh Se-hoon is outsourcing risks by reducing personnel aiming for management improvement, but if I become mayor, I will stop the outsourcing of risks and ensure that Seoul Metro is safely maintained."

In the afternoon, the National Specialized High School Union held a memorial action for Kim's 6th anniversary at Sinchon Station and marched to Hongdae Entrance Station.