Seoul: Lee's campaign against workplace accidents (of which he himself was a victim)

At the age of 13, working in a glove factory, his hand and arm were crushed under a press. Now the South Korean president is relaunching the fight against workplace accidents. The country records 3.9 deaths per 100,000 workers, with a 4.1% increase in victims over the last five years. The government is increasing funds for prevention in 2026, with inspections in companies and protection for subcontracted workers. Meanwhile, the opposition accuses Lee of populism and ineffective measures.

Rome (AsiaNews/Agencies) - President Lee Jae Myung's promise to reduce the high rate of workplace accidents in South Korea also carries a personal story. A long-time politician and Seoul's 14th head of state since last June, he found himself with a crushed arm and finger while working in the production of rubber gloves and baseball gloves. This was a significant personal injury in a country like South Korea, which has the second highest rate of workplace accidents among OECD countries. It led Lee Jae Myung to call workplaces that do not guarantee safety “deadly.”

According to data from the International Labor Organization (ILO), since 2023 South Korea has recorded 3.9 deaths per 100,000 workers (OECD average 2.6). Reuters points out that Lee Jae Myung is said to be “haunted” by the accident he had as a young man, so much so that he pays special attention to the issue, which is worrying regardless of his personal history. This awareness has led him to visit companies, urge solutions, and even set up a specific task force to investigate workplace accidents. This attention has led some companies to shorten work shifts, dismiss top management, and suspend projects. Examples include the SPC group in the bakery sector, the construction company Posto E&C, and the shipbuilding company Hanwha Ocean.

Nevertheless, critics accuse Lee Jae Myung of punishing companies and failing to protect workers with effective measures, with populist statements and proposals. In its 37 trillion won (approximately 21.8 billion euro) budget for 2026, the Ministry of Labor has increased spending on workplace accident prevention, stating that it will fine companies up to 5% of their profits if they record three or more deaths in a year. Minister Kim Young-hoon, a former train driver, said that beyond policies, attitudes towards work must change. He said: “In South Korea, there is a perception that some victims must be sacrificed in order to push the country to grow faster.” He added: “If we do not radically change this perception, no policy will work.”

President Lee Jae Myung is the winner of last June's presidential election, which followed the South Korean Supreme Court's April confirmation of the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who declared a state of emergency on December 3, 2024, by enacting martial law. Lee, a member of the opposition, has been the leader of the Democratic Party since 2022. As a young man, he worked as a laborer and suffered an accident to his arm when he was 13 years old. This brought him closer to the injustices suffered by the South Korean working class and to the defense of their rights. This commitment never wavered during his education, which led him to become a lawyer in 1986. He entered politics in 2005, and already as mayor of Seongnam in 2010 and governor of Gyeonggi Province in 2018, his policies stood out for their focus on social issues.

Despite the application of South Korea's law on the punishment of serious accidents—employers can be sentenced to at least one year in prison for each death—fatal accidents in the workplace have increased by 4.1% over the last five years, reaching 2,098 in 2024. Opponents argue that Lee's plans are only aimed at creating an illusion of safety. Meanwhile, the government assures that the measures taken are not only punitive but also preventive, such as subsidies for companies to purchase safety equipment. In August, the Democratic Party passed the Yellow Envelope Law, which extends protection to subcontracted workers, who are often hired to circumvent legal responsibilities and reduce costs.