Minister Kim Younghoon Orders Active Suspension of Outdoor Work at 35 Degrees Celsius or Higher

At Least 20-Minute Break Every Two Hours

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon issued an urgent directive on July 28, instructing the heads of 48 regional offices nationwide to either suspend outdoor work or actively adjust working hours whenever the perceived temperature reaches 35 degrees Celsius or higher.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor explained that this directive goes beyond the recent amendment to the Industrial Safety and Health Standards Regulation, which institutionalized a mandatory break of at least 20 minutes every two hours during heatwaves of 33 degrees Celsius or higher. The ministry determined that even more proactive measures are necessary in situations where the temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius.

Minister Kim Younghoon Visits Korean Optical Hightech's High-Altitude Protest Site

(Seoul=Yonhap News) On July 26, Minister Kim Younghoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor met with Park Junghye, the chief deputy union head who has been conducting a high-altitude protest for 566 days at Korean Optical Hightech in Gumi, Gyeongbuk Province, and then moved on. 2025.7.26 [Provided by Ministry of Employment and Labor. Resale and DB prohibited]

Photo by Yonhap News Agency (end)

Guidance for the prevention of heat-related illnesses will also be strengthened, especially for high-risk groups such as the elderly and newly assigned workers.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor had previously, on July 25, requested cooperation from 24 central government agencies, including the Korea Forest Service and the Rural Development Administration, as well as 243 metropolitan and basic local governments, regarding compliance with the 'Five Basic Heatwave Safety Rules' and the suspension of work during heatwaves of 35 degrees Celsius or higher.

Minister Kim stated, "When working in manholes, work must never proceed unless all three key safety measures?hazardous gas measurement, sufficient prior ventilation, and the wearing of air-supplied masks?are ensured." He also instructed strict action in the event of any violations.