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The construction site of the Shinansan Line underground tunnel project, operated by POSCO E&C, where a collapse accident occurred in April 2025. / Yonhap News Agency.

The government will conduct high‑intensity inspections of Posco E&C’s headquarters and construction sites nationwide following a series of fatal accidents at its projects.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on June 11 that after a worker died in a fall at the Shin Ansan Line double‑track railway construction site on June 9, it will implement strong measures including planned inspections of Posco E&C’s headquarters and sites nationwide.

The accident occurred at 5:26 p.m. on June 9, when a worker fell through an opening in an electrical conduit room at a railway construction site in Gwanak‑gu, Seoul. Fatal accidents at Posco E&C sites have been recurring: one in 2023, three in 2024, five last year, and now another this year.

Labor Minister Kim Young‑hoon, attending the 114th International Labour Organization (ILO) conference, immediately ordered special measures upon receiving the report, citing repeated serious accidents at Posco E&C.

The ministry will jointly inspect seven Shin Ansan Line sites with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, where four fatal accidents have occurred since October 2024.

Authorities plan to review overall safety management at construction sites, and if risks such as falls or collapses are identified, they will order safety and health diagnoses and assign dedicated inspectors for intensive oversight. Surprise inspections will also be carried out at other Posco E&C sites, while headquarters will be checked for compliance with safety management system improvements recommended in January.

In connection with the latest accident, compulsory investigations such as raids will be promptly pursued. The ministry vowed to hold the company strictly accountable if violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act or the Serious Accidents Punishment Act are found.

Upon returning to Korea, Minister Kim will summon CEOs of Posco E&C and other Posco Group affiliates where fatal accidents have occurred, to review safety management and demand fundamental reforms and prevention plans. Since the Serious Accidents Punishment Act came into effect, 18 deaths have been recorded at Posco Group companies—10 at Posco E&C and 4 at Posco.

Minister Kim stated, “The repeated occurrence of accidents such as falls due to failure to implement basic safety measures raises doubts about whether Posco E&C is taking effective preventive action.” He added, “Through strong and swift investigations, we will hold them fully accountable for violations and strongly demand that Posco Group establish fundamental measures to prevent recurrence.”

                                                                                                          Kim Nam‑hyung