Who Would Apply? Geumsan County's Safety Staff Face Fines and Prosecution After Accidents

Residents Turn Away Amid Controversy Over Shifting Blame for Accident
County: "Measures Limited to Cases of Gross Negligence... Intended to Raise Awareness"

Geumsan County in Chungnam, where a water-related accident last month claimed the lives of four people in their 20s, recently recruited additional safety management staff, but not a single applicant came forward.

A sign indicating a "No Water Play Zone" installed near the recreational area close to Gireogi Park in Geumsan County, Chungnam, where an accident occurred last month. Photo by Yonhap News

According to Geumsan County on the 25th, the county announced the "2025 Summer Water Play Safety Staff Recruitment Notice" on August 12, seeking four people to oversee three water play management and high-risk areas. The purpose was to fill vacancies left after four people in their 20s drowned while playing in the upper Geum River last month. However, the term of employment was only 12 days until the end of this month, the daily wage was just 80,240 won, and the recruitment notice included language that appeared to shift responsibility onto the employees. As a result, there were no applicants.

Gumsan County 2025 Summer Water Play Safety Staff Recruitment Notice - Important Information. Gumsan County Office

The notice newly added a clause stating, "In the event of a drowning accident at the workplace, the contract may be terminated and you may be subject to a claim for damages, as well as face criminal charges for occupational negligence resulting in death." This provision was not included in the previous notice in May.

As the recruitment notice spread across online communities, netizens criticized the local government for shifting the responsibility for safety management and supervision onto temporary workers. In response, a Geumsan County official explained, "The intention was to apply this only in cases of gross negligence, but there was a misunderstanding," adding, "The aim was to raise awareness and alertness."

As a result, with the new recruitment falling through, the existing safety staff who have been working since June continue to manage the water play areas.

Previously, on July 9, four people in their 20s drowned while playing in the water at the Georogi Park recreational area in Jewon-myeon, Geumsan County. At the time, police cited insufficient safety measures and referred one government official and two safety staff to the prosecution on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death.

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