President Lee Issues Stern Directive Following Consecutive Worker Deaths
"The government has a responsibility to protect the lives and safety of its citizens... Strict action will be taken against those responsible"
Even Stronger Measures Possible if 'Outsourcing of Risk' is Confirmed
President Lee Jaemyung has issued a stern directive to "implement extraordinary measures to stop deaths in the workplace" following an accident in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, where a worker died during pipe installation work.
On July 7, Lee Guyoun, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Relations and Communication, stated in a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office, "On the morning of July 6, two workers were asphyxiated while working on pipe installation in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon. One of them went missing in this tragic accident. Despite immediate rescue operations, the missing worker was found dead today." He conveyed President Lee's instructions in this context.
Secretary Lee explained, "President Lee stated that the government has a responsibility to protect the lives and safety of citizens who make their living through labor." He added, "The President emphasized the need to thoroughly investigate whether there were any shortcomings in on-site safety management, to rigorously examine any violations of relevant laws such as the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, and to take strict action against those responsible."
Secretary Lee continued, "(President Lee) strongly ordered the relevant ministries to take extraordinary measures, such as overhauling on-site safety management and strengthening preemptive supervision, to ensure that backward industrial accidents never occur again."
Meanwhile, when asked whether President Lee had commented on the so-called "outsourcing of risk" issue, Secretary Lee responded, "The causes of the accident, as well as any shortcomings in safety measures, have not yet been investigated." He continued, "What the President emphasized today can be seen as a directive to thoroughly determine these aspects and to strictly punish those responsible according to the results. If the issue of outsourcing safety emerges during the investigation, I believe even stronger measures will be taken."
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