Two Workers Dead at Hyundai Steel... Ministry of Employment and Labor Conducts Search and Seizure at Headquarters and Yesan Plant

Members and bereaved families of the Korean Metal Workers' Union condemned Hyundai Steel and the Daejeon Regional Office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 3rd in front of Gate B of Hyundai Steel's Dangjin Plant in Chungnam, stating that a worker's death accident has repeated due to poor safety measures without even safety railings and the failure to follow the two-person team work system.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has launched a series of raids targeting Hyundai Steel headquarters, the Yesan plant, and subcontractors in connection with a worker fatality at the Hyundai Steel Yesan plant.

According to the Ministry on the 14th, the Daejeon Regional Employment and Labor Office is conducting raids today at six locations, including Hyundai Steel headquarters, Hyundai Steel Yesan plant, and the headquarters of subcontractors Simwon Development, MST, and YM Tech, to investigate the fatal accident that occurred during mold maintenance work at the Hyundai Steel Yesan plant.

At around 1:40 p.m. on the 5th, a steel structure collapse accident occurred at the Hyundai Steel Yesan plant in Samgyo-eup, Yesan-gun, Chungnam Province, resulting in the death of subcontractor worker A (25 years old).

Immediately after the accident, the Ministry of Employment and Labor issued a work stoppage order for the plant and has been investigating the cause of the accident as well as potential violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

According to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which came into effect on January 27, business owners and management responsible for workplaces with 50 or more regular employees (or construction projects with a contract amount of 5 billion KRW or more) can be punished if a serious industrial accident occurs due to failure to ensure safety and health.

Hyundai Steel was also subject to raids on the 7th at its headquarters, Seoul office, and Seoul sales office in connection with a fatal accident at the Dangjin plant.

The Ministry explained, "Through these raids, we will clarify the multi-layered subcontracting relationships at the Hyundai Steel Yesan plant and thoroughly verify whether the management responsible properly fulfilled their obligations to ensure safety and health."

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