Beyond Treatment to Return... Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service Vows "Full Accountability for Industrial Accident Workers"

The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service is set to fully launch an integrated program that provides one-on-one support for workers who have suffered industrial accidents, guiding them through every step from treatment to returning to work. This initiative aims to go beyond the previous treatment- and compensation-focused support, by systematically managing the entire cycle of psychological recovery, job reintegration, re-employment, and employment retention after return, in order to reduce employment instability and long-term unemployment following industrial accidents.

On March 4, the Service announced that it will implement the "Total Vocational Return Care" project this year in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The core of this project is to provide tailored, step-by-step services, starting from the initial treatment phase through to returning to the original workplace, post-return adaptation, and employment retention. Each worker's return-to-work pathway will be individually designed, taking into comprehensive account their health status, degree of disability, characteristics of their previous job, career history, and skill level.

Jonggil Park, Chairman of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, visited the Gyeonggi Nursing Hospital of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service on February 12th, Lunar New Year, to wish for the speedy recovery of workers injured in industrial accidents. Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service

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The program consists of four stages. The first stage begins immediately after the industrial accident is recognized. During this period, comprehensive information is provided about the industrial accident compensation system, the upcoming treatment schedule, and vocational return support programs. At the same time, career counseling is offered to assess the worker's potential to return to their job, and counseling is provided to alleviate psychological trauma, such as anxiety and depression, following the accident. By establishing the return pathway from the outset, the Service aims to minimize labor market withdrawal due to prolonged treatment.

The second stage begins when treatment becomes more intensive. At this stage, communication with the employer is strengthened to specifically assess the possibility of returning to the original workplace. Practical return options such as job modification, reduced working hours, and assistive device support are explored, and specialized rehabilitation therapy and vocational training are linked when necessary. Consulting services are also provided to employers to facilitate the step-by-step return of industrial accident workers.

If returning to the original workplace is not feasible, the process advances to the third stage. Here, an artificial intelligence (AI)-based job matching system is used to recommend suitable jobs that match the worker’s physical abilities, career background, and desired job type. Substantial employment support is also offered, including guidance on vocational training courses, assistance in obtaining certifications, resume writing, and interview coaching. This moves beyond simply providing job information, offering tailored support to increase the likelihood of successful re-employment.

In particular, for workers expected to have lasting disabilities (i.e., those with permanent physical impairments), long-term career planning counseling is also provided on the premise of a job change. Support is given to help these workers transition to relatively safe and sustainable occupations that accommodate physical limitations, with links to vocational skills development training if needed.

The fourth and final stage involves post-return follow-up. The Service monitors employment retention and workplace adaptation for three months after the worker returns to work. If conflicts at work or difficulties adapting to job duties arise, counseling and additional support are provided. Even in cases of resignation within a short period, re-employment support continues, with the aim of preventing further withdrawal from the labor market.

Jonggil Park, President of the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service. Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service

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This project is operated by private service providers equipped with specialized personnel. Dedicated staff, including career counselors and social workers, participate in the program. The Service plans to operate separate "Vocational Return Guides" and "Re-Employment Guides." Vocational Return Guides are responsible for psychological counseling, setting up return pathways, and maintaining relationships with employers, while Re-Employment Guides focus on connecting workers to vocational training and supporting job search activities throughout the re-employment process.

The program targets industrial accident workers expected to have disabilities and their employers. The Service plans to prioritize and intensively support cases involving moderate to severe accidents or those requiring long-term care.

The Service emphasized that this project is part of a policy to strengthen the state's responsibility for industrial accident insurance. While industrial accident insurance has previously focused on treatment and compensation, the aim is to expand it into a system that takes responsibility all the way through to a worker’s return to the workplace.

Going forward, the Service plans to analyze project outcomes to expand the range of support recipients and further advance its digital counseling systems. The goal is to build a "comprehensive support system with full accountability" so that workers facing uncertainty after industrial accidents can successfully return to the workplace.

Jonggil Park, President of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, stated, "We will provide systematic support for a return to work from the initial stage, so that industrial accident workers are not cut off from the labor market after treatment. Through personalized services that encompass psychological recovery, job adaptation, and employment retention, we will help ensure a stable return to everyday life."

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