Lee praises labor minister as workplace deaths fall 19.9% in first three quarters
In short
At a cabinet meeting on 20 October, Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon reported 366 industrial accident deaths through the third quarter, 91 (19.9%) fewer than a year earlier. President Lee Jae-myung called it a groundbreaking achievement and told Prime Minister Han Seong-sook to arrange rewards without waiting for year-end. He also voiced frustration that a bill on tougher penalties for firms that skip safety measures has not passed.
Read the full story 2 min read
President Lee Jae-myung praised Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon on 20 October after Kim reported a fall in industrial accident deaths to the cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae. Kim said cumulative deaths through the third quarter of this year were 366, which is 91 (19.9%) fewer than in the same period last year. Kim stressed that this was the lowest third-quarter figure since records began, Yonhap and Chosun Ilbo reported. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Lee called the result a groundbreaking achievement and said it might be the effect of a worker serving as labor minister. He recalled comparing firefighters to little gods when he was governor of Gyeonggi Province and said the minister and labor inspectors had given life to someone, which he called a truly great thing. [ 2 , 4 ]
According to Dong-A Ilbo, Lee said Kim had pledged to stake his post on cutting industrial accidents about a year ago and had produced a big result. Lee said that statistically 200 to 300 people who might not have returned home from work had done so. Kim told the meeting he would do his best to make the decline in deaths a structural and irreversible change. [ 3 ]
After prompting applause from those present, Lee told Prime Minister Han Seong-sook that clapping alone was not enough, asking whether a lot of reward budget had not been prepared. He said to give rewards and encouragement and that there was no need to wait until the end of the year. In Dong-A Ilbo's account, Han asked whether she should give an award to the room too, and Lee replied that rewards and encouragement should both be given. Dong-A Ilbo wrote that Lee said ministry staff with large achievements, including field labor inspectors, would receive large-scale rewards. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Lee also said that 366 people who need not have died had died while working, and that this was not a small number. He asked the ministry to keep stepping up efforts to reduce accidents. [ 2 , 4 ]
Asked about progress on a policy to strengthen economic sanctions on companies that fail to carry out safety measures, Kim replied that the bill had not yet passed. Lee said he had been talking about it since last year and called legislation in the National Assembly frustrating. He told Kim to make every effort and to go and plead for speedy action. When Lee asked whether pleading works, Kim answered that he was pleading hard and would plead more. [ 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The figures were presented by the minister at a cabinet meeting, and the president responded with praise and a call for rewards for ministry staff. Lee also said the number of deaths is still not small and that legislation on penalties for firms is still pending in the National Assembly.
Key facts
- Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon told the cabinet meeting that cumulative industrial accident deaths through the third quarter of this year were 366, down 91 (19.9%) from the same period last year. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Kim said it was the lowest third-quarter figure since records began. [ 2 , 4 ]
- President Lee Jae-myung called the result a groundbreaking achievement and said it might be the effect of a worker serving as labor minister. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Lee told Prime Minister Han Seong-sook to give rewards and encouragement and said there was no need to wait until the end of the year. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Lee said 366 people who need not have died had still died while working, which he called not a small number. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Told by Kim that the bill had not yet passed, Lee voiced frustration over legislation to strengthen economic sanctions on companies that fail to take safety measures. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Cumulative industrial accident deaths through the third quarter were 366, which is 91 (19.9%) fewer than in the same period last year, according to the labor minister's report to the cabinet meeting. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Lee described the result as a groundbreaking achievement and told the prime minister to give rewards and encouragement. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- How many lives the decline represents. Dong-A Ilbo quoted Lee as saying that statistically 200 to 300 people who might not have returned home from work did so; the reported drop is 91 deaths (19.9%), and the other documents do not give his 200 to 300 estimate.
- The scale and form of the planned rewards. Dong-A Ilbo wrote that Lee announced large-scale rewards for ministry staff including field labor inspectors; the other documents report only that he told the prime minister to give rewards and encouragement.
- When the bill on stronger economic sanctions for firms that fail to take safety measures may pass. The documents say only that it has not yet passed the National Assembly and that Lee told Kim to go and plead for speedy action.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- SBS News published a report on Lee's reaction at the cabinet meeting, including his applause and call for rewards. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap published its account of Kim's report and Lee's response at the cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae. [ 2 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo published its account of Lee's praise of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo published its account of the meeting. [ 4 ]