First live Cabinet discussion tackles workplace safety

The Lee Jae Myung administration has pledged to prevent the loss of life at workplaces in an unprecedented LIVE broadcast of the entire Cabinet discussion on the matter.

Our Presidential Office Correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports.

Safety should be a basic duty, not a financial burden.

Just days after visiting a bread factory where multiple workers were killed on the job, President Lee Jae Myung, at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, doubled down on his pledge to eliminate what he calls "regressive" industrial accidents.

"When the same accident happens in the same place, failing to prevent something that's foreseeable is the same as tolerating death. In legal terms, it could even be considered murder by willful negligence."

In a first for any South Korean administration, the President ordered the entire Cabinet discussion on the matter to be broadcast live.

"The President said measures to prevent industrial accidents must be shared openly.

The frequency and scope of such disclosures could be expanded."

A range of ideas were proposed to make this year the turning point in ending workplace deaths.

"We'll pursue measures like punitive damages, restrictions on who can bid for government-led projects, and suspending operations. We must hold those with real decision-making power accountable."

"When major accidents happen, listed companies face lower ESG ratings, investor pullback, or restricted lending. We'll review how these penalties are applied and look to strengthen them."

The focus was on breaking the perception among some employers that skipping safety measures is cost-saving.

"Under the current law, companies violating safety rules face fines ranging from 50,000 won to 50 million won (US$ 35.90 to US$ 35,910).

At those levels, there's little incentive to comply. We need to review and revise this."

Wrapping up, the President asked each ministry to take swift action, whether drafting new laws, adjusting budgets, or visiting worksites.

With most of his Cabinet positions now filled, President Lee stressed the need for cross-ministerial coordination to tackle pending issues, and hinted that Cabinet meetings may be held more than once a week to speed up progress.

Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.