Haunted by His Past Injury, South Korean President Launches Crackdown on “Workplaces of Death”

Haunted by memories of his childhood injuries as a factory worker, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has launched an aggressive campaign to tackle one of the nation’s most persistent problems—its deadly workplace safety record. Declaring an end to what he calls “workplaces of death,” the President is vowing to transform South Korea’s industrial culture, where accidents have long been accepted as the cost of rapid growth.

The move comes amid alarming statistics from the International Labour Organization (ILO). In 2023, South Korea recorded 3.9 workplace deaths per 100,000 workers, far exceeding the OECD average of 2.6. The rate of fatal construction accidents was even higher, second only among OECD countries. The recent collapse of a heating structure in Ulsan that killed seven workers underscored the urgency of reform. President Lee personally visited several accident sites, including an SPC Group bakery where a worker was crushed earlier this year, calling such incidents “a national shame.”

To address the crisis, Lee’s administration has conducted company raids, increased the national safety budget to 27 billion dollars for 2026, and expanded workplace protections for subcontracted workers. Under tightened laws, companies with multiple fatalities within a year may face penalties up to five percent of their operating profit. Some corporations, including POSCO E&C, DL Construction, and Hanwha Ocean, have already suspended operations, replaced executives, and adopted new safety standards following fatal incidents.

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However, the crackdown has ignited controversy. Critics accuse the President of using populist tactics and punishing corporations instead of focusing on long-term preventive solutions. Experts such as Professor Jung Jin-woo of Seoul National University of Science and Technology argue that excessive pressure on companies could lead them to simply appear compliant rather than genuinely improving safety. Statistics back some of these concerns—industrial deaths rose 4.1 percent in 2024, suggesting limited impact from recent reforms.

Still, the administration remains firm. Labour Minister Kim Young-hoon emphasized that a shift in national mindset is crucial, saying the country must abandon the notion that “some casualties are acceptable for economic progress.” He insisted that reforms are not political theatre but part of a broader cultural change, including subsidies for safety equipment and tighter monitoring of subcontracting practices. For workers like Kim Yong-ho, who nearly lost his life at a Hyundai Steel plant in 2019, the hope remains that the president’s personal mission can finally make South Korean factories safe workplaces rather than death traps.

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