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Jung Hee-min (center), CEO of POSCO E&C, bows in apology with other executives at the company’s headquarters in Songdo, Incheon, on July 29, following a fatal accident at a highway construction site in Hamyang–Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. / Courtesy of POSCO E&C

Jung Hee-min, CEO of POSCO E&C, offered his resignation on August 5, just seven months after taking office, in response to a series of deadly workplace accidents. His departure follows two fatal incidents in less than ten days, prompting speculation that growing pressure from the presidential office and the Ministry of Employment and Labor played a role.

On July 29, a worker died at a construction site on the Hamyang–Changnyeong Expressway in South Gyeongsang Province. Then, on August 4, a Myanmar national in his 30s suffered a cardiac arrest in an apparent electrocution at another POSCO E&C site in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province.

In a statement, Jung said, “Despite promising a complete work stoppage and thorough safety inspections, another fatal accident occurred at the Gwangmyeong–Seoul Expressway construction site. I deeply apologize to the public and take full responsibility by stepping down.”

He added, “This incident should not be viewed merely as a failure in safety management, but as a stern warning demanding fundamental reform across company operations.” Jung emphasized that safety must be reaffirmed as the company’s core value and hoped his resignation would mark a turning point for structural transformation.

Jung pledged that POSCO E&C would “rebuild public trust and pursue sustainable growth by establishing a field-oriented, self-directed safety culture involving all employees and subcontractors.”

He concluded with a message of condolence: “Once again, I express my deep sorrow for the lives lost and extend my sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured.”

POSCO E&C has reported four fatal accidents this year alone. These include a fall at an apartment construction site in Gimhae in January, a collapse at the Sinansan Line site in April, another fall in Daegu that same month, and the recent drilling machine accident in Uiryeong.

Observers believe POSCO E&C's swift leadership change may be a preemptive move ahead of expected government action. The presidential office previously signaled there would be a response after President Lee Jae-myung’s vacation. Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon had also expressed regret, saying another fatality occurred despite the ministry’s direct safety orders and a follow-up meeting after the July 28 incident.

A POSCO E&C official said the company had no further comment beyond the released statement.