Lee vows to end workplace deaths

Apr 28, 2026, 10:34 am

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President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a senior aides meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on April 16. /Yonhap

Lee Jae-myung pledged stronger action to eliminate industrial accidents, calling worker safety a core national priority.

Marking Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28, Lee said eradicating workplace fatalities is a key task for his administration, stressing that sustainable growth must be built on safety.

In a message posted on social media, Lee paid tribute to workers who lost their lives on the job and expressed condolences to their families, while wishing a swift recovery for those undergoing treatment.

“Workplaces must no longer become sites of death,” he said, vowing to mobilize all available measures and strengthen legal and institutional frameworks to prevent recurring tragedies.

Lee acknowledged that industrial accident fatalities fell 17.5% year-on-year in the first quarter, attributing the decline to government efforts and cooperation between labor and management.

However, he stressed that more progress is needed. “In the face of lives we failed to protect, we still have a long way to go,” he said.

The president also pointed out that South Korea’s record as having the highest industrial accident death rate among OECD countries undermines its status as a top-10 global economy.

“Growth achieved in safe workplaces is the only kind of sustainable growth that guarantees people’s well-being,” he said, adding that the government will take full responsibility to ensure Workers’ Memorial Day becomes a moment not only of mourning but also of renewed commitment to safety.

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