Martial Arts: "Regret over 'Serious Accident Punishment Act' Agreement... Employer Imprisonment Should Be Changed to a Maximum Limit Regulation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) expressed concern on the 6th, stating that it "deeply regrets the ruling and opposition parties' agreement to enact the Serious Accident Punishment Act."

KITA made this statement after the ruling and opposition parties agreed to pass the Serious Accident Punishment Act on the 8th, urging, "At the very least, please review it once more to ensure that companies are not excessively punished." They also requested that three points be definitely reflected in the legislation.

KITA said, "First, please change the minimum imprisonment term for business owners to a maximum term," adding, "Industrial accident cases are cases of negligence." They pointed out, "It is legally contradictory to impose harsher punishments on business owners who have indirect managerial responsibility than on those directly involved."

They also said, "Please limit the punishment of business owners under the Serious Accident Punishment Act to cases of 'repeated fatal accidents,'" explaining, "General industrial accidents should be governed by the Industrial Safety and Health Act, and the Serious Accident Punishment Act should only apply to repeated fatal accidents where there were opportunities for improvement."

Lastly, they requested, "Please explicitly specify in the law the obligations that business owners can fulfill, and allow exemption from liability if those obligations have been met."

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