The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has launched a comprehensive investigation into the POSCO E&C construction site where a fatal accident occurred. The investigation will focus on the level of safety management at the construction site and the presence of illegal subcontracting.
According to the government on the 7th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport began a comprehensive inspection of over 100 construction sites nationwide where POSCO E&C is responsible for construction, starting from the end of last month. The ministry is looking into whether the safety management plans for each POSCO E&C construction site are being properly implemented.
This comprehensive inspection follows comments made by President Lee Jae-myung at a Cabinet meeting on the 29th of last month, where he pointed out that the fatal accident at the POSCO E&C construction site constituted "negligent homicide."
Starting next week, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, along with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, will conduct joint crackdowns on illegal subcontracting and wage arrears at POSCO E&C construction sites.
The results of this on-site inspection are expected to determine the level of sanctions against POSCO E&C. The company has come under government scrutiny after four fatal accidents occurred this year. Three people died as a result of three fall and collapse incidents at POSCO E&C construction sites in January and April. On the 28th of last month, a worker in his 60s died after getting caught in a drilling machine.
In light of this, President Lee Jae-myung ordered on the 6th that POSCO E&C consider strong punitive measures, including the cancellation of its construction license and a ban on public bidding.
During a briefing, Spokesperson Kang noted regarding the measures for the fatal accident at POSCO E&C that "the Serious Accidents Punishment Act allows for a business to be suspended if there are two or more fatalities at a business site" and mentioned that there was discussion in an internal presidential office meeting about the need to address legal shortcomings.