Labor Ministry Raids Contractors Over Fatal Fall at Sinan-san Line Construction

South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor has initiated a forceful investigation into the companies responsible for the Sinan-san Line railway construction project following a fatal fall accident on March 9. The ministry's Seoul Southern District Office conducted searches and seizures at the site offices of both the primary contractor and subcontractors.

Approximately 20 labor supervisors were involved in the operation, aiming to secure mobile phone and PC data from relevant personnel. The investigation will intensely scrutinize whether sufficient safety measures were in place to prevent the worker's fall. Based on the evidence gathered, the ministry intends to identify the cause of the accident and hold accountable any parties found to have violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The accident involved a subcontracted worker in his 30s who fell approximately 15 meters at a construction site in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, resulting in his death. The Ministry of Employment and Labor stated its commitment to actively utilizing compulsory measures, including searches and seizures, against businesses with a pattern of fatal accidents due to non-compliance with basic safety rules.

This investigation comes after Labor Minister Lee Ki-ho met with executives from Posco E&C, the main builder of the Sinan-san Line, urging them to implement strong management reforms and countermeasures to prevent serious industrial accidents. The Sinan-san Line project has been marred by a series of accidents since 2024, resulting in four worker fatalities across four separate incidents. In response, the ministry will also conduct joint safety inspections with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport at seven high-risk Sinan-san Line construction sites, assigning dedicated supervisors and planning a comprehensive audit of Posco's headquarters and all its construction sites nationwide.

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We will actively utilize compulsory measures, including searches and seizures, and respond strictly against businesses where fatal accidents repeatedly occur due to failure to observe minimal safety rules.