[2022 National Audit] Cultural Heritage Administration Faces 'Red Light' on Safety and Health Management Due to Inadequate Worker Training

Cultural Heritage Administration Omits Some Industrial Accident Reports
Assembly Member Ryu Ho-jeong: "Could Be Judged as Concealment or Downplaying of Industrial Accidents"

Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] It has been confirmed that institutions under the Cultural Heritage Administration omitted reporting some industrial accidents to the Ministry of Employment and Labor and failed to conduct worker safety and health education.

On the 10th, Ryu Hojung, a member of the Justice Party belonging to the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, pointed out that the omission of reporting some industrial accidents by Cultural Heritage Administration institutions could be considered an act of concealment or reduction of industrial accidents. She further stated that the failure to conduct legally mandated worker safety and health education and training for safety and health management officers before the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act in 2022, mostly due to “lack of awareness,” is a major reason for the high industrial accident rate and called for proper countermeasures.

The number of industrial accidents that occurred in Cultural Heritage Administration institutions over the past five years was confirmed to be 94 cases. However, only 82 “Industrial Accident Investigation Reports” were submitted. The Occupational Safety and Health Act stipulates that employers must not conceal the occurrence of industrial accidents. Furthermore, the enforcement regulations of the same law require that an industrial accident investigation report be prepared and submitted to the head of the local employment and labor office within one month of the accident, and that major details of the accident be recorded and preserved. Those who fail to report or falsely report industrial accidents may be subject to fines, and those who conceal the occurrence of industrial accidents or instruct or conspire to conceal them may face criminal penalties such as imprisonment for up to one year or fines up to 10 million won.

Compared to the industrial accident rate of 0.63% for all Korean workers last year, Cultural Heritage Administration institutions far exceed this rate. The industrial accident rate is calculated as the number of injured workers divided by the number of workers enrolled in industrial accident insurance, multiplied by 100. From July 2021 to September 2022, the rates were as follows: National Ganghwa Cultural Heritage Research Institute (7.69%), Western District Management Office (4.38%), Changgyeonggung Management Office (4.32%), National Wanju Cultural Heritage Research Institute (2.17%), National Gyeongju Cultural Heritage Research Institute (1.86%), National Buyeo Cultural Heritage Research Institute (1.85%), Eastern District Management Office (1.76%), Gyeongbokgung Management Office (1.56%), National Cultural Heritage Research Institute (1.44%), National Intangible Heritage Center (1.17%), Deoksugung Management Office (0.96%), Headquarters (0.82%), Central District Management Office (0.68%), Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation (0.21%).

The status of non-implementation of safety and health education by institution is also serious. Except for this year when the Serious Accident Punishment Act was enforced, almost all institutions did not conduct most of the worker safety and health education and training for safety and health management officers mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, National Palace Museum, National Intangible Heritage Center, National Maritime Cultural Heritage Research Institute, Hyeonchungsa Management Office, National Cultural Heritage Research Institute, National Gyeongju Cultural Heritage Research Institute, National Buyeo Cultural Heritage Research Institute, National Gaya Cultural Heritage Research Institute, National Naju Cultural Heritage Research Institute, National Jungwon Cultural Heritage Research Institute, National Ganghwa Cultural Heritage Research Institute, National Wanju Cultural Heritage Research Institute, Royal Tombs and Relics Headquarters, Gyeongbokgung Management Office, Deoksugung Management Office, Changgyeonggung Management Office, Jongmyo Management Office, Sejong the Great Relics Management Office, Joseon Royal Tombs Eastern District Management Office, Central District Management Office, Western District Management Office, and Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation answered that the main reason for not conducting education was “lack of awareness of the law.” The content of education also varies greatly by institution. There are calls for systematizing education programs and redesigning them overall, including arranging education tailored to the characteristics of each institution.

Representative Ryu emphasized, “To create a workplace free of industrial accidents where workers can work safely and healthily, it is necessary to establish a safety and health management system involving labor unions and further strengthen dedicated organizations for serious accident prevention.”