10 years since Guui Station tragedy... Tragedy must be stopped with mandatory 'two-person teams'

Ten years ago, the tragic death of a young worker at Guui Station sent shockwaves across South Korea, a tragedy that continues to weigh heavily on our collective conscience. As the Seoul Transportation Corporation Labor Union Chairman, I feel a profound sense of responsibility and sorrow each year when this anniversary approaches, a stark reminder that the peril faced by workers heading to their jobs and never returning home remains an ongoing reality.

We must never forget the names of those lost to such horrific accidents. From the Guui Station incident in 2016 to the deaths of workers like Kim Yong-gyun at Taean Thermal Power Plant, Kim Chung-hyun at Taean Thermal Power Plant, and numerous others in various industrial settings, a clear commonality emerges: workers were left alone in hazardous environments. Had a colleague been present to observe the work, call for emergency assistance, or provide immediate aid – in essence, had a "buddy system" been in place – these lives might have been saved.

Fortunately, legislative efforts are underway to prevent such tragedies. A bill proposing mandatory two-person teams for high-risk jobs, particularly those with a significant risk of fatal accidents, has been introduced in the National Assembly. This amendment aims to legally enforce the buddy system for tasks such as working on elevators, cranes, in submerged or underground tunnels, or on railway tracks. It also includes severe penalties for employers whose negligence leads to a worker's death, with potential imprisonment or substantial fines.

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If there had been even one colleague present to observe the work situation and request emergency rescue and first aid, they would never have lost their lives.

However, this vital legislation, which could be a lifeline for workers, remains stalled in the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee. Business groups, citing concerns over labor costs and recruitment difficulties for small businesses, are staunchly opposing the bill. Despite the repeated emphasis on the need for a two-person system following each fatal incident, economic pragmatism has consistently trumped worker safety, forcing individuals to undertake dangerous tasks alone. The indifference of the political establishment is equally disheartening. Where are the commitments made by ministers and political leaders who pledged to end the chain of industrial accidents?

We are filled with anger at the current state of affairs, where a critical piece of legislation is languishing due to opposition from employers and a lack of decisive action from political figures. Will this bill follow the same path as the workers who were left alone and ultimately perished? The time for action is now. We implore everyone to lend their voice in support of the swift passage of the Industrial Safety and Health Act amendment, mandating the two-person system. There are no more lives to lose, no more time to waste. Let us ensure that the workplace, a place for earning a living, does not become a place of death. We must guarantee the safe return home for all working citizens.

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The lives of workers are not a cost that can be substituted.