On July 17th, President Lee Jae-myeong called for thorough inspections and swift responses in regions expected to experience casualties from ongoing nationwide torrential rains.

During his opening remarks at the 4th Senior Secretary’s Meeting, which took place in the presidential office’s video conference room, President Lee instructed officials to manage risk-prone areas—including semi-basement homes, underground passages, underground parking lots, locations prone to river flooding, landslide zones, and proximity to retaining walls—with heightened safety protocols.

“The foremost duty of the state is to protect the lives and safety of its citizens,” President Lee emphasized. “No mistakes can be tolerated when it comes to protecting lives.”

While large-scale damages have been avoided so far despite the continuing heavy rainfall, the administration confirmed that there have already been reports of casualties and flooding in some areas.

President Lee also stated that thorough accident investigations and strict accountability for those responsible are necessary regarding workplace incidents.

Referring to the recent spate of industrial accidents, he said, “Old-fashioned accidents are still being repeated.” He pointed out the persistent workplace culture that prioritizes costs over safety must change.

Specifically, President Lee referenced the fatal worker fall that occurred on July 14th at Posco Gwangyang Steelworks. He stressed the need for a swift investigation to determine the cause, check for inadequate safety measures, and firmly hold those responsible to account.

He further declared, “We must not repeat the shame of having the highest industrial accident and fatality rates among OECD nations,” and called for substantial government action to create safer working environments.

President Lee also announced a plan to rapidly recruit approximately 300 labor inspectors to conduct more frequent and unannounced workplace safety inspections.

Addressing the social security net, President Lee remarked, “The social safety net must be meticulously woven, but sometimes it has unexpected loopholes.” Citing the recent mother-and-child death case in Daejeon, he emphasized the need for proactive government administration.

He reiterated that the government should ensure no one is left in welfare blind spots and must strive for preemptive interventions to address potential cases.

Additionally, the president mentioned designating Constitution Day as a statutory holiday as a key issue, instructing officials to consider ways to further elevate the significance of this national observance.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Korea Policy Briefing, Yonhap News