Yoon on Failure to Postpone Serious Accident Punishment Act: "Opposition Ignores Livelihood Economy... Strong Regret"

Yoon Orders Government to "Minimize Confusion and Side Effects in Industrial Sites"

President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed strong regret on the 26th over the failure to postpone the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, calling it "an irresponsible act by the opposition party that disregards the difficulties of small and medium-sized enterprises and the livelihood economy."

President Yoon made these remarks on the morning of the same day regarding the failure of the ruling and opposition parties to reach an agreement on the amendment to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, according to Kim Soo-kyung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, in a written briefing.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon then instructed all relevant government ministries, including the Ministry of Employment and Labor, to "minimize confusion and side effects in industrial sites caused by the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act."

He particularly emphasized, "Devise necessary support measures for small businesses facing threats to their survival."

Earlier, President Yoon had requested the day before, "Please make efforts to ensure that the amendment to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act is definitely passed in the National Assembly."

The Serious Accidents Punishment Act stipulates that if a serious accident occurs at a workplace with 50 or more employees, resulting in one or more deaths or 10 or more injuries or illnesses, the business owner and management officials shall be subject to imprisonment for more than one year or a fine of up to 1 billion won.

As the ruling and opposition parties failed to reach an agreement on the amendment to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, the Act will also apply from the 27th to workplaces with 5 or more but fewer than 50 employees, which had been temporarily exempt from the law.