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President Lee Jae-myung presides over a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on June 10. / Source: Presidential Office

Despite President Lee Jae-myung’s stern criticism of recent fatal accidents at Posco E&C, deadly incidents in the construction industry have continued, prompting speculation that the government will escalate its pressure on the sector.

According to industry sources on August 10, the government will conduct nationwide crackdowns on illegal subcontracting at construction sites from August 11 through the end of September. The inspections aim to address recurring fatal accidents and wage arrears.

Many in the industry, however, see the move as part of a broader punitive campaign. “After the president ordered strong measures over the Posco E&C accident, we felt this was inevitable,” one industry insider said. “But with yet another fatal accident, the president is expected to respond even more forcefully.”

On August 6, a week after a deadly incident at Posco E&C, another worker was killed at a DL Construction site in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province. President Lee then instructed that all fatal industrial accidents be reported directly to him without delay and signaled that high-intensity measures were forthcoming.

Industry observers expect the upcoming crackdown to be accompanied by severe penalties, particularly for companies linked to fatal accidents. The government has also begun preparing subordinate regulations for the Construction Safety Special Act, which faced strong opposition from the sector but is now considered certain to pass. Officials believe the law will help reduce fatalities at construction sites.

Some insiders even anticipate unprecedentedly harsh measures. “You can clearly sense the president’s anger,” another industry figure said. “At this point, no one would be surprised if the government rolled out the most severe sanctions in history.”