[2021 National Audit] Ministry of Employment: "Training Company Violated Industrial Safety Law" in High School Student Diving Work Death Accident

December 12 National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee Employment Ministry Affiliated Agencies Audit
Employment Ministry Policy Director "Can Be Considered as Workers"

On the afternoon of the 11th, a candlelight vigil was held at Ungcheon Waterfront Park in Ungcheon-dong, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do, to honor Hong Jeong-woon, a third-year student at a specialized high school in Yeosu, who died while diving during a yacht field training. Hong tragically passed away on the morning of the 6th while diving to remove barnacles attached to the bottom of the yacht. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 6th that there is a possibility of violation of the Industrial Safety and Health Act by the training company where the late Hong Jeong-woon, who died while performing diving work as an on-site trainee, was employed.

Park Seong-hee, Director of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, stated on the 12th during the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee's audit of the Ministry's affiliated institutions, in response to a related inquiry by Kang Eun-mi of the Justice Party, "There is a possibility of considering (Hong) as a worker, and in that case, (the company) is judged to have violated the Industrial Safety and Health Act."

Hong, who attended a specialized high school in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, lost his life on the 6th while removing barnacles from the underside of a yacht as an on-site trainee. Kang pointed out, "At that time, two-person teams were not working, and there was no safety manager," adding, "Hong performed tasks not specified in the standard training agreement." According to the Industrial Safety and Health Act, those under 18 years old are prohibited from performing diving work.

However, since the company in question is a business with fewer than five employees, which is mostly exempt from the Industrial Safety and Health Act and other labor-related laws, there is a divided opinion within the Ministry of Employment and Labor regarding the legality. Director Park initially responded to Kang's inquiry, "I have not received a report that this is a violation related to the application of the Industrial Safety and Health Act," but upon Kang's repeated questioning, he answered, "It is judged to be a violation of the Industrial Safety and Health Act."

Criticism regarding the response process to this accident was also raised at the audit session that day. Kang said, "The company responsible for the accident resumed business just four days after the accident," adding, "Because the Ministry only partially suspended diving operations."

Kim Seong-won of the People Power Party also questioned, "Similar types of accidents have been repeatedly occurring from the 2012 Guui Station accident, the 2018 Taean Thermal Power Plant accident, up to this year." Kim urged, "Every time an accident happens, we ask for preventive measures to ensure it never happens again, but the same accidents continue. Especially, on-site trainees suffer from power abuse, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor must conduct a full investigation on this matter."

In response, Hwang Jong-cheol, Director of the Gwangju Employment and Labor Office, said, "We are conducting an on-site investigation together with the Coast Guard," and added, "We will thoroughly investigate the facts on-site to prevent recurrence of the accident."

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