KCCI "Serious Accident Punishment Act Enforcement Too Strict"... Proposal for Revision to New Government

16th Major Accident Prevention Industrial Safety Forum
"All Responsibility for Major Accidents Lies with Employers
Management and Safety Commitment Weakened... Negative Impact on Accident Prevention"

A construction site in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] About a month and a half after the Serious Accidents Punishment Act came into effect, the business community has decided to request the new government to ease the application of the law by authorities. The business sector believes that the excessively broad scope of application and ambiguous mandatory provisions are dampening entrepreneurs' willingness to manage and comply with safety obligations, which could have adverse effects instead.

Lee Dong-geun, Executive Vice President of the Korea Employers Federation (KEF), expressed at the "3rd Serious Accident Prevention Industrial Safety Forum" hosted by KEF on the 16th, "Recently, there is a tendency to blame all responsibility on the business owner and criticize them solely because a serious accident occurred without identifying the cause of the accident," adding, "Managers are in a state of great worry and concern." Since such concerns are emerging throughout the industry, KEF plans to listen to various field difficulties in line with the new government's launch, review the law, and submit a proposal for supplementary legislation as soon as possible.

Since the law's enforcement on January 27, there have been fatal or serious injury accidents at various workplaces, large and small, including the collapse accident at Sampyo Industry's quarry in Gyeonggi Province, Yeochun NCC, Hyundai Steel, and Doosung Industry. The industry expects that although authorities are conducting accident investigations, the unclear and ambiguous provisions in the law will require considerable time to determine responsibility and accountability. Authorities are also cautious because how the law is applied in the early stages of enforcement could set a precedent for the future.

Vice President Lee pointed out, "Looking at the direction of the authorities' investigations, the strict investigation stance continues, such as indicting the CEO immediately after an accident occurs," and added, "It is worrisome that the law is being applied too strictly in a situation where it is difficult to determine the cause of the accident and responsibility due to unclear legal provisions." He further stated, "If the CEO is investigated solely based on the occurrence of an accident regardless of responsibility, corporate management will be restrained, and the willingness to ensure safety will weaken, which will ultimately have a negative impact on reducing fatal accidents."

According to a survey conducted by KEF in February targeting over 1,100 companies nationwide, the Serious Accidents Punishment Act was identified as the most burdensome regulation for companies this year. It was also cited as the top priority for amendment after the new government takes office. Although President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol did not present a clear pledge regarding the Serious Accidents Punishment Act during his candidacy, he has previously mentioned ambiguous aspects of the law in discussions, leading many to expect that the new administration will address it in some way.

The forum was organized to facilitate communication between the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the enforcement agency for serious industrial accidents, and Chief Safety Officers (CSOs) overseeing safety and health operations at major corporations, regarding issues raised at worksites since the law's enforcement in late January. Seventeen CSOs from major companies such as Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor Company attended, along with Kwon Ki-seop, Director of the Industrial Safety and Health Bureau at the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

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