Hunger Strike Demanding Serious Accident Punishment Act '10 Days'... Late Kim Yong-gyun's Mother "It's Hard, My Mouth Dries from Anxiety"

Chairperson Kim Mi-sook of the Kim Yong-gyun Foundation, mother of the late Kim Yong-gyun, who is on a hunger strike in front of the National Assembly main building on the 17th urging the enactment of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, along with Mr. Lee Yong-gwan, father of the late PD Lee Han-bit, and Mr. Lee Sang-jin, Vice Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, are holding their positions. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] It has been ten days since Kang Eun-mi, floor leader of the Justice Party, began her hunger strike. She is fasting to urge the ruling and opposition parties to pass the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (Serious Accident Act), which holds business owners and companies strictly accountable when human casualties occur due to corporate negligence. She is protesting by cutting off her staple food, fighting to save lives.

On the afternoon of the 20th, Kang held a public press conference at the protest site in front of the National Assembly main building, saying, "Please stop this barbaric time where people have to fight desperately to work without dying," and added, "The harsh winds of Yeouido are draining my body and mind day by day. Ms. Kim Mi-sook, mother of the late worker Kim Yong-gyun who said her life stopped after losing her child, and Mr. Lee Yong-gwan, father of PD Lee Han-bit, are enduring unbearable grief and fighting the cold that exceeds minus 10 degrees Celsius while continuing their hunger strike."

Kang emphasized, "Every year, 100,000 workers get injured while working. About 2,000 workers die on the job. Including those who do not apply for industrial accident compensation, many more workers die or get injured and live with lifelong aftereffects," and continued, "In ten years, one million people get injured and 20,000 die. In November alone, 52 people did not return from their workplaces. Even as countless people inside and outside the National Assembly desperately appeal, accidents cruelly continue without end."

She added, "There are many voices opposing this law, saying it will restrict corporate activities. Does that mean we should accept workers’ deaths for the sake of business activities?" She said, "Today, three workers fell to their deaths at a logistics warehouse in Pyeongtaek. Two others are seriously injured and receiving treatment. Citizens and members of both ruling and opposition parties, I earnestly appeal to you. Please stop this dreadful procession of deaths."

To the People Power Party, she said, "Please do not make the lives and safety of the people a victim of political power struggles between the ruling and opposition parties. Show through your actions that the bill proposed by a party member of the same party as the emergency committee chairperson was not a political gesture forced by public opinion."

To the Democratic Party of Korea, she said, "You should no longer delay the legislative schedule by using the opposition as an excuse." She urged that discussions in the subcommittee and standing committee be held before the 25th, and a one-point National Assembly session be convened before the 31st.

Kang also said, "The physical strength of the bereaved families continuing the hunger strike has reached its limit. I hope efforts will be made so that they can welcome the New Year with their families in warm homes by the end of the year."

Ms. Kim Mi-sook, mother of the late worker Kim Yong-gyun, said, "I am losing strength day by day, and now just getting through each day is difficult," adding, "Previously, the leaders of both ruling and opposition parties and the Speaker of the National Assembly came and promised to pass the Serious Accidents Punishment Act within the session. But as time passes, progress is slow, and I am anxious to the point of drying up my saliva."

She continued, "Living with the pain of losing Yong-gyun is hard enough, but the constant news of other deaths transfers that pain to me, making my heart ache even more," and criticized, "The Korea Employers Federation and the Federation of Korean Industries opposing this law is a ruthless and shameless act that shows no remorse for sacrificing countless people for profit and intends to continue killing as before."

She concluded, "Bereaved families who have lost their children and loved ones hope with a bleeding heart that this law will be fully enacted. Each and every tragic story and accident of the deceased is included in this bill."

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