President Lee Jae-myung, on July 25, visited the SPC Samlip Siwha factory in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, where a serious industrial accident had recently occurred. Speaking on-site, President Lee underscored the urgent need to “create a society in which nobody dies at work, and to ensure all workplaces are safe and happy environments.”

The “On-Site Forum for Serious Industrial Accidents,” held at the factory, brought together SPC Group Chairman Heo Young-in, company representatives, frontline workers, and top government officials, including Chief Policy Secretary Kim Yong-beom, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs Moon Jin-young, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon, and Industrial Safety and Health Bureau Chief Kim Jong-yoon.

The visit follows a tragic incident this past May when a female worker in her fifties was fatally caught in machinery on the factory’s cream bread production line. In his opening remarks, President Lee shared his own longstanding experience as a victim of industrial accidents and directly addressed recurring issues where similar tragedies happen repeatedly at the same sites.

President Lee noted that one of the main reasons for ongoing workplace accidents is “the imbalance between the costs of prevention and the consequences companies face when accidents occur.” He stressed the need for thorough analysis of accident causes and stated, “It is unacceptable for workers’ safety and lives to be sacrificed for cost reasons.”

He continued, “South Korea is the world’s tenth largest economy and has a per capita income nearing $40,000, yet working conditions at many industrial sites still lag behind those of developed nations.” Lee indicated that the Ministry of Employment and Labor must expand its responsibility and role to address these issues.

Referring to data showing that South Korea has the highest workplace fatality rate among OECD nations, President Lee demanded, “Concrete and practical measures must be implemented to address this problem.” He also pointed out that a rise in deaths from suicide, traffic accidents, and industrial injuries is undermining overall social happiness, and stressed the importance of reducing extreme choices made in the midst of hardship.

During the meeting, SPC outlined proposals to prevent recurrence of similar accidents and strengthen on-site safety. Best practice cases in occupational health and safety were also presented by CJ Foodville and Crown Confectionery.

President Lee listened directly to the challenges expressed by workers on the ground and closely considered their appeals to both government and company representatives. In his closing comments, Lee shared that members of his own family had worked in bakeries, giving him first-hand awareness of the tough realities faced in such jobs.

He also highlighted that all recent fatal accidents involving SPC workers have occurred in the early morning hours, calling for joint efforts to move away from low-wage and long-hours labor practices. Lee concluded, “We must become a society that prioritizes lives and never spares expenses on safety.” He instructed the Ministry of Employment and Labor to step up inspections of safety equipment and strengthen the management of safety systems at industrial sites.

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 Agency