President Lee Jae-myung salutes the national flag at the Cabinet meeting held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News
On September 2, President Lee Jaemyung ordered an expansion of the compensation scope for violations of safety regulations under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
Presiding over a Cabinet meeting at the Yongsan Presidential Office that day, President Lee criticized, "Fatal falls continue to occur at construction sites, and there are frequent accidents that could easily be avoided with a bit more caution. I cannot understand this," adding, "If there is a risk, shouldn't measures be taken to prevent it?"
President Lee pointed out, "Administrative fines are much more effective than criminal punishment," and added, "Fines are only 3 million or 5 million won, which have no effect." He emphasized, "Let's set the fines at several times the amount of the safety costs that companies try to save."
President Lee also noted, "Punitive damages are supposed to be imposed when a serious accident occurs, but I have never heard of it actually being done," and suggested, "If we expand the range of those subject to punishment, there will likely be strong backlash. Wouldn't it be better to expand the scope of compensation instead?"
Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon reported that the ministry is considering imposing compensation of up to 3% of a company's sales if a fatal accident occurs while operating without meeting legal requirements.
Meanwhile, President Lee responded to industry complaints that government crackdowns and sanctions are stifling business, saying, "Does that make any sense?" and criticized, "Are we supposed to stimulate the construction and industrial sectors under illegal and inhumane conditions?"
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