Honors and compensation for public officials who die in the line of duty while performing hazardous tasks will be expanded.
The Ministry of Personnel Management said on the 24th that the Cabinet approved a partial amendment to the Public Officials' Occupational Accident Compensation Act. Except for some provisions, the amendment is scheduled to take effect one year after promulgation.
According to the amendment, the Ministry of Personnel Management will expand the scope of special cases for compensation to bereaved families of those who die in the line of duty in hazardous tasks. Public officials who die in the line of duty due to hazardous tasks can receive 60 times the average standard monthly income of all public officials.
Previously, the special case applied only when a police officer died in the line of duty during an anti-infiltration operation, but going forward, it will apply to all public officials who die in the line of duty or are killed in action during an anti-infiltration operation.
If a public official dies in the line of duty while performing duties such as those of the military, police, or fire service, the individual will also be recognized as a service member who died in the line of duty. In such cases, compensation will be paid under the Act on the Honorable Treatment and Support of Persons of Distinguished Service to the State, and the procedures for burial in a national cemetery will be greatly simplified.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Personnel Management will also overhaul the system for promoting policies to prevent occupational accidents among public officials. Going forward, each agency must designate a "health and safety officer" to oversee accident prevention and establish health and safety management regulations.
To prevent occupational accidents caused by overwork and job stress, a basis will be newly established for supporting and managing public officials' health and safety. To that end, the government will support health screenings and psychological tests and provide a legal basis for measures such as job reassignment and psychological counseling support.