Major Accident Punishment Act Passes Lawmakers' Committee... Intense Debate Until the End Over Application to Workplaces with Fewer Than 5 Employees

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] The Serious Accidents Punishment Act is set to pass the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 8th and move on to the plenary session. Since the committee bill subcommittee reached a bipartisan agreement the day before (the 7th), a smooth passage in the full committee was expected. However, contrary to expectations, the committee members fiercely debated until the last moment over whether the law should apply to workplaces with fewer than five employees.

Justice Party lawmakers are holding a picketing protest on the 8th before the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly, urging the application of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act to workplaces with fewer than five employees. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

The day before, Baek Hye-ryun, chairperson of the first bill subcommittee and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, told reporters after the subcommittee’s resolution, “The exclusion does not apply to workplaces with fewer than five employees. If it is a primary contractor, the Serious Accidents Punishment Act applies.” However, even members of the same party in the full committee raised doubts that day. Park Ju-min, who proposed the bill, pointed out in the plenary session, “Even considering the harsh reality, it is not reasonable to exclude workplaces without considering the characteristics of the industry.” Shin Dong-geun also expressed concerns, saying, “There is a risk of outsourcing dangers and misuse through splitting workplaces.”

In a subsequent inquiry, So Byung-chul, also from the same party, urged the Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, saying, “Statistics from 2015 to 2019 show that fatal accidents continue to occur in workplaces with fewer than five employees,” and requested, “Please state your position that if accidents do not decrease within three or five years (a set period), you will push for a revision of the law.” Yoon Ho-jung, chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, supported this by saying, “Please clarify whether there is an intention to amend the law if serious accidents continue to occur in workplaces with fewer than five employees.”

In addition, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, Vice Minister Kang Seong-cheon of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and Vice Minister Park Ha-jin of the Ministry of Employment and Labor expressed their agreement. Vice Minister Park responded, “We will review the progress and amend the law if necessary.” After receiving firm answers from each ministry following intense debate, the committee approved the bill as originally proposed by the subcommittee.

The late PD Hanbit Lee's father, Yonggwan Lee, and the late Yonggyun Kim's mother, Misook Kim, chairperson of the Yonggyun Kim Foundation, are attending the plenary session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly on the 8th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Meanwhile, bereaved families of serious accident victims attending the meeting protested, saying, “If you are going to pass it like this, why did you accept our national petition?” and were eventually asked to leave. Ultimately, the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, excluding workplaces with fewer than five employees from its legal application, will be presented to the National Assembly plenary session that afternoon.

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