Ruling Party Accelerates Serious Accident Corporate Punishment Act... Justice Party Says "4-Year Grace Period Means Abandoning Deaths"

Democratic Party's Policy General Meeting on the 17th Regarding the Serious Accident Corporate Punishment Act
'Park Beom-gye Proposal' Removes Presumption of Causation Clause and Grants 4-Year Grace Period for Workplaces with Fewer Than 50 Employees
Justice Party Criticizes, "Over 90% of Serious Accidents Occur in Workplaces with Fewer Than 50 Employees"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Wondara and Jeon Jinyoung] The Serious Accidents Punishment Act is expected to be processed within the temporary session of the National Assembly. On the 14th, Park Beomgye, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed a bill that deletes the presumed causation clause, which had raised constitutional controversy, and sets a four-year grace period for workplaces with fewer than 50 employees.

According to the National Assembly on the 15th, the Democratic Party plans to hold a policy meeting on the 17th to gather opinions within the party based on Park’s bill and then submit the Serious Accidents Punishment Act to the standing committee. If it passes the standing committee, it could be processed as early as during this temporary session.

Park Beomgye’s bill deleted the 'presumed causation clause' that had caused constitutional controversy within the party, which was included in the bills by Park Jumin and Lee Tanhee. Park explained, "The burden of proof for crimes caused by violations of safety and health measures should be on the prosecutor according to the general principles of criminal procedure, so the presumed causation provision in the currently proposed bills is deleted."

Additionally, for workplaces with fewer than 50 employees, the bill sets a grace period by stipulating that it will be enforced starting four years after the law’s promulgation. The punishment level for public officials, one of the key issues, was also eased from "imprisonment for more than one year or a fine between 30 million and 300 million won (existing bill)" to "imprisonment for up to seven years or a fine up to 50 million won (revised bill)."

However, the provision that imposes a sentence of at least two years of imprisonment with labor or a fine of at least 500 million won if the employer or management is responsible for a death caused by a major civic accident was maintained. The punishment level for the corporation was also kept at a fine between 100 million and 2 billion won.

The leadership of both ruling and opposition parties visited the protest site where the Justice Party and families of industrial accident victims were fasting to urge the enactment of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party, said, "We are creating a new law that did not exist before, and since it covers a wide range of related fields, it will take some time," promising, "We will do our best." Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "There is an issue of reviewing the legal system. Fundamentally, a law to prevent serious accidents is necessary," adding, "We will discuss it to be able to complete it within the session."

Meanwhile, if Park Beomgye’s bill passes the National Assembly, criticism that the Serious Accidents Punishment Act has regressed is expected to be unavoidable. On the 15th, Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young appeared on KBS radio and criticized, "Postponing the application of the law to workplaces with fewer than 50 employees means leaving those deaths unattended, considering that more than 90% of serious accidents occur in workplaces with fewer than 50 employees."

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