President Lee Jae-myung Strongly Responds to POSCO E&C Industrial Accident

President Lee Jae-myung has expressed strong criticism regarding the ongoing industrial accident fatalities at POSCO E&C.

In remarks at a Cabinet meeting held at the Presidential Office on the 29th, President Lee expressed his anger, stating, "This is the fifth industrial accident fatality at POSCO E&C this year."

In particular, President Lee condemned, "The fact that fatalities occur in the same way ultimately means accepting death, and to speak very harshly, it can be considered as murder through willful negligence," highlighting the pressing need for corporate accountability regarding repeated fatalities in industrial settings.

"A workplace that was supposed to be about living has become a battlefield."

President Lee pointed out, "A workplace that was supposed to be about living has become a battlefield," emphasizing, "It was actually predictable, yet no defensive measures were taken, resulting in accidents."

He remarked, "There are times when it seems like human lives are not valued but treated as tools. Just like my family is precious to me, workers are someone's breadwinners and family members as well," stressing the importance of valuing every life.

He also expressed his anguish, saying, "I sincerely feel devastated, suspecting that this might be a result of a mindset that states, 'There's nothing we can do even if someone dies.'"

President Lee also pointed out the issues with the subcontracting structure.

He noted, "With multiple levels of subcontracting, where the subcontractor gets subcontracted several times, the actual construction is done for about half of the original contract amount, making it impossible to implement safety facilities or measures," indicating that this multi-tiered subcontracting structure could lead to industrial accidents.

Declaration of Intent to Visit the Site

President Lee expressed his intent to check the site directly, saying, "I think I should also visit the POSCO E&C site."

Regarding Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon's directive for unannounced inspections at all nationwide sites constructed by POSCO E&C, he mentioned, "It would be great if I could join the unannounced inspections as well."

The mentioned fatality occurred on the 28th at a POSCO E&C construction site in Uiryong, Gyeongsangnam-do, where a worker in his 60s was crushed by a drilling machine.

So far this year, five workers have lost their lives at POSCO E&C worksites.

Emphasizing a Commitment to Eradicate Industrial Accidents

President Lee stressed, "Such retrogressive accidents must be permanently eradicated. I hope this year can be the starting point for eliminating industrial accident fatalities."

He urged Minister Kim Young-hoon, saying, "You should have the mindset of a special forces unit that protects human lives, and truly rigorously crack down on violations of safety regulations in industrial settings."

Minister Kim responded that he will "put his position on the line," to which President Lee remarked, "If accidents do not decrease even after a considerable amount of time, you really should put your job on the line," reiterating his strong commitment to eradicating industrial accidents.

President Lee also commented on SPC, which had repeatedly faced industrial accidents, stating that after his visit, they decided to eliminate night shifts exceeding eight hours. He added, "It’s late, but it's fortunate," and urged, "Since you mentioned it, I hope you will surely keep that commitment."

It remains to be seen whether the government's strong commitment to eradicating industrial accident fatalities will translate into safety improvements at the actual worksites.

Image source: President Lee Jae-myung / News1, representative photo for understanding of the article / gettyimagesbank, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon giving a briefing on amendments to the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act at the Government Seoul Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul on July 29, 2025 / News1