11 workers killed at South Jeolla industrial complex over 21 months; labor ministry steps up inspections

Eleven workers have died in serious industrial accidents at the Daebul Industrial Complex in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province — a hub for shipbuilding parts and vessel block manufacturers — between January last year and September this year. Four of the victims were migrant workers. The Ministry of Employment and Labor said it would step up routine inspections of small businesses in the complex and link safety management consulting to fiscal support for safety facilities and equipment.

Ryu Hyeon-cheol, head of the ministry's Occupational Safety and Health Bureau, visited the Daebul complex Tuesday for unannounced on-site inspections before meeting with representatives from labor, management and occupational safety organizations. The talks focused on the causes of accidents at the complex and ways to implement safety measures to prevent similar incidents.

Many businesses at the Daebul complex use cranes to move heavy loads and carry out hot work such as cutting and welding, with some operations also involving work at heights. Ryu called on employers to verify that process-specific safety measures are functioning properly on the ground and to ensure migrant workers are fully informed of workplace hazards and safe working procedures.

The ministry said it would take strict action against any violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act found during future inspections and would continue to monitor whether safety and health rules are being followed at worksites.

"A string of industrial accidents is a signal that safety management systems are not working properly on the ground," Ryu said in a press release, stressing that central and local governments, labor and management, and civic groups must work together to find solutions.