Kim Yong-gyun's Mother and Justice Party Begin Hunger Strike: "Until the Serious Accident Punishment Act is Enacted"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Kang Eun-mi, floor leader of the Justice Party, and bereaved families who lost loved ones to industrial accidents began a hunger strike on the 11th at the National Assembly main building, urging the enactment of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (Serious Accidents Act).

The Justice Party and the campaign headquarters for the enactment of the Serious Accidents Act held a press conference in front of the National Assembly main building on the same day, urging the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party to enact the Serious Accidents Act within the year. Bereaved families, including Kim Misook, mother of subcontractor worker Kim Yong-gyun who died while working at the Taean Thermal Power Plant in 2018, and Lee Yong-gwan, father of PD Lee Han-bit who died at CJ E&M, also joined the hunger strike.

Ms. Kim said, "Yesterday marked the second anniversary since I last saw Yong-gyun's face," adding, "The Industrial Safety and Health Act, created because of Yong-gyun, has failed to prevent ongoing deaths. I will continue the hunger strike with a heart full of tears until the law is properly enacted." Mr. Lee also said, "From the moment we lost our family, our entire lives stopped," and "I will not leave on my own feet unless the law is enacted."

Justice Party leader Kim Jong-cheol stated at the press conference, "The reason why Yong-gyun's mother and Han-bit's father are fighting is to ask for a law that prevents others from being sacrificed like their children," and added, "We want the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party to answer why bereaved parents still have to fight on cold floors, fasting. The two parties must come here and explain why they still neglect the 'outsourcing of risk' and refuse to end the 'procession of death.'"

The Serious Accidents Act aims to criminally punish corporate executives who neglect industrial safety duties leading to serious accidents such as worker deaths, and to introduce punitive damages. However, the Democratic Party holds the position that some provisions in the Justice Party’s proposed Serious Accidents Act may be unconstitutional, requiring a cautious approach.

Choi In-ho, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said at the National Assembly on the same day, "In-depth discussions will be held with the goal of passing the bill in the standing committee during this extraordinary session." He added, "This is a law that requires considerable review in various aspects," and "It is necessary to deeply listen to stakeholders and voices from the field."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.