Worker Deaths Continue in Gwangju and Jeonnam Just 3 Days After 'Serious Accidents Punishment Act' Passes National Assembly

At around 12:40 PM on the 11th, a worker was caught in a machine at a factory in Pyeongdong Industrial Complex, Gwangju Metropolitan City, and paramedics are conducting rescue operations. Photo by Gwangsan Fire Station, Gwangju

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Just three days after the Serious Accident Corporate Punishment Act passed the National Assembly, a series of fatal accidents occurred at industrial sites in Gwangju and Jeonnam.

According to the Gwangju Gwangsan Fire Station on the 11th, at around 12:43 PM that day, worker A (51, female) was caught in a machine and died at a waste plastic recycling company in Pyeongdong Industrial Complex, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.

Although the ambulance team dispatched after receiving the report arrived at the scene, A had already passed away with severe upper body injuries.

The company is known to have five employees including the CEO, so it is unlikely to be subject to the Serious Accident Corporate Punishment Act.

The Serious Accident Act stipulates that if a worker dies at an industrial site, the responsible business owner or person in charge who neglected safety measures can be sentenced to imprisonment for more than one year or fined up to 1 billion KRW, and corporations can be fined up to 5 billion KRW. It also includes provisions for punitive damages up to five times the amount by the business owner or corporation.

However, businesses with fewer than five employees are excluded from the law, and those with fewer than 50 employees have a three-year grace period.

Earlier, at 8:05 PM the previous day, a young worker A (33) was caught in a machine at a bituminous coal storage company in Yeosu National Industrial Complex.

He was rescued by the dispatched ambulance team and transported to the hospital but ultimately passed away about an hour later.

It was reported that in 2018, a worker at the same company died after falling from a bituminous coal conveyor belt to the floor.

Meanwhile, on the 8th, the National Assembly finally passed the Serious Accident Act with 164 votes in favor, 44 against, and 58 abstentions.

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