Representatives from labor, business, and the government have begun discussions on reducing industrial accidents. The "Labor Safety Tripartite Meeting" held on the 8th was attended by labor representatives Kim Dong-myung, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, and Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; business representatives Son Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, and Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs; and Kim Young-hoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, representing the government.
This marks the first time under the Lee Jae-myung administration that tripartite representatives have gathered to discuss industrial accident reduction. President Lee has criticized industrial accident deaths as "killing through willful negligence" and has personally visited individual worksites to apply pressure. In this regard, it can be said that the order of priorities was reversed, as discussions with the directly concerned parties—labor and management—on reducing industrial accidents are only beginning now. Nevertheless, it is fortunate, albeit late, that they have agreed to establish a standing dialogue body.
In the day's discussions, the Ministry of Employment and Labor proposed establishing a "Safe Workplace Committee," while labor demanded guarantees for the right to halt work, and business called for industrial accident prevention incentives. Although their approaches differ, all three parties agreed that accident prevention is the core issue. They acknowledged the reality that punishment-focused policies alone cannot effectively reduce risk factors in the field. For workplaces with 50 or fewer employees, where industrial accident deaths have actually increased since the implementation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, prevention-centered support is urgently needed rather than strengthened punishment. In a vicious cycle where responsibility evasion and avoidance of safety investment are repeated in the contractor-subcontractor structure, a punishment-only approach is ineffective, and raising workers' safety awareness cannot be achieved through sanctions alone.
It is now time to shift the government's industrial safety policy direction toward prevention. The government needs to face the fact that three years after the implementation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, industrial accident deaths have not been reduced. A prevention system must be established, and various incentives including financial and tax benefits should enable companies to voluntarily conduct risk assessments, improve facilities, and strengthen training. In fact, the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation has created a safety model with zero serious accidents by detecting 72,388 accident indicators in advance over two years across 20 Special Safety Zones through the establishment of an AI and IoT-based safety management system. This case clearly demonstrates that reducing industrial accidents is possible through systems incorporating advanced technology.
The solution for safe workplaces through industrial accident reduction is clear. It is strengthening prevention, not strengthening punishment. The government must concentrate its policy capabilities on establishing an effective prevention system.
