High School Senior Intern Who Died in Yeosu Faces Overtime Work Allegations... Also Lacked Diving Certification

On the morning of the 8th, a press conference was held at the yacht dock in Ungcheon Waterfront Park, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do, demanding a thorough investigation and prevention of recurrence regarding the death of Hong Jeong-woon, a third-year student at a specialized high school, who died while diving during an on-site training. Participants are shouting slogans.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] There are suspicions that Hong Jung-woon (18), a specialized high school student who lost his life during on-site training, worked beyond the maximum legal working hours of 40 hours per week.

On the 6th, at a yacht dock in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, an accident occurred in which Hong, a specialized high school student, died while working during his on-site training. At the time, Hong died while performing diving work to remove barnacles attached to the bottom of the yacht.

According to the 'Yeosu Late Hong Jung-woon On-site Trainee Death Accident Fact-Finding and Countermeasures Committee,' the 'On-site Training Standard Agreement' signed between Hong and the company stated that Hong was only supposed to be responsible for providing food or guidance to tourists, unrelated to yacht operation or management. Hong did not have the certification required for diving work, and contrary to safety regulations that require work in pairs, he was found to have dived alone.

In response, today (the 10th), the Ministry of Education issued a press release expressing "deep condolences for the deceased who tragically lost his life and offered comfort to the bereaved family," and stated, "We plan to form a joint investigation team with the Jeonnam Office of Education to identify related matters and consider follow-up measures such as improvements to ensure safety during on-site training."

The joint investigation team for this accident will include experts related to labor and on-site training, such as industrial safety inspectors, certified labor attorneys, and the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, with cooperation from the Ministry of Education, the Office of Education, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The Ministry of Education also added that it will advance the schedule for the annual central-level on-site training guidance and inspection and will conduct focused inspections and guidance on risk factors in cooperation with related ministries.

According to a report by The Hankyoreh on the same day, Hong reportedly worked more than 10 hours a day and even on holidays at the yacht company where he conducted his on-site training. The bereaved family explained that Hong left at 8 a.m. and returned home after 10 p.m., and even after coming home, he was so exhausted that he lay down for about an hour without energy.

Hong started his on-site training work on the 27th of last month under a contract with the company that stipulated 35 hours of work per week and payment of the minimum wage (8,720 won). Additionally, according to the clause allowing an extension of working hours by one hour per day and up to five hours per week, he could work up to the upper limit of 40 hours per week for high school on-site trainees as stipulated by the Vocational Education and Training Promotion Act.

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