President Lee Jae-myung, who is on summer vacation, directed on the 6th for an investigation into the circumstances of the industrial accidents that have repeatedly occurred at POSCO Engineering & Construction, including compliance with manuals. He specifically ordered a review of legally possible high-intensity measures such as "cancellation of construction licenses" and "prohibition from public bidding."
According to Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung from the Presidential Office, while on summer vacation at Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang Province, President Lee conveyed urgent directives to his aides that included a thorough verification of manual compliance at POSCO Engineering & Construction, which has caused a series of industrial accidents, and a detailed investigation into whether the incidents were preventable. He also stated to find and report all legally possible punitive measures.
President Lee also instructed to "consider and report possible additional punitive measures such as punitive damages to prevent such industrial accidents from recurring," Spokesperson Kang noted. This relates to the urgent direction following the incident on the 4th, in which a Myanmar national worker was electrocuted at the Gwangmyeong-Seoul Expressway construction site managed by POSCO Engineering & Construction.
Earlier, President Lee criticized during a cabinet meeting on the 29th of last month that "the fifth industrial death accident this year has occurred at POSCO Engineering & Construction," stating that "to put it harshly, it is akin to murder with legal intent." In response, Jeong Hee-min, then CEO of POSCO Engineering & Construction, issued an apology and promised safety inspections at construction sites nationwide. However, after another accident occurred just six days later, CEO Jeong expressed his intention to resign, taking responsibility for the incident.
In accordance with President Lee's directive for measures to prevent the recurrence of industrial accidents, the government is reviewing sanctions such as punitive damages, bidding restrictions, and license cancellations against companies where serious accidents frequently occur.