[2025 National Assembly Audit] Senior Employment Programs Turn into "Danger Zones" Instead of Welfare... Over 15,000 Safety Incidents in 5 Years

Shortage of 2,000 Dedicated Safety Managers
"Intensive Management Needed for High-Risk Program Groups"

Over the past five years, more than 15,000 safety incidents have occurred at senior employment program sites. Due to a chronic shortage of safety management personnel, accidents have repeatedly concentrated in these programs, leading to criticism that senior employment programs are turning from "welfare sites" into "danger zones."

According to data submitted by So Byunghoon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, from the Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged on October 28, the number of safety incidents in senior employment programs increased by 35%, from 2,985 cases in 2021 to 4,036 cases in 2024. As of September this year, 1,950 incidents have already been recorded.

Over the cumulative five-year period, there were 1,157 injuries and 9 deaths. Notably, senior clubs accounted for 5,509 incidents, which is more than one-third of the total.

The Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged cited several reasons for the increase in accidents: the expansion of the program (from 740,000 positions in 2020 to 1.03 million in 2024), the aging of participants (average age 77.6), and a shortage of safety management personnel.

So Byunghoon, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Dongjoo Yoon doso7@

Although current law requires at least one dedicated safety manager for each type of program, in practice, administrative staff are often responsible for safety management in addition to their regular work, reducing effectiveness. One person is tasked with overseeing 100 to 150 seniors, handling recruitment, selection, wage payments, and safety inspections simultaneously.

The Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged estimates that 2,639 dedicated safety managers are needed to operate all 1,359 implementing agencies nationwide. However, only 613 positions have been secured in the 2026 government budget, making a shortfall of 2,026 personnel inevitable.

So Byunghoon criticized, "The fact that accidents are concentrated in a few of the thousands of institutions nationwide is a clear management failure," adding, "Unless the shortage of more than 2,000 personnel is addressed, nothing will change on the ground." He continued, "At this rate, it will not be welfare, but rather an expansion of risk," emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul, including intensive management of high-risk program groups, early implementation of a safety rating system, and increased budget allocation.