South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor ordered regional offices to make unannounced return visits to workplaces cited for safety violations, checking whether employers had corrected breaches and seeking to prevent further serious accidents.
The ministry announced the directive Nov. 7 at an emergency meeting with heads of 49 local offices. Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon called for strict action on violations that remain unresolved. He also urged closer scrutiny of companies where the same type of serious industrial accident has recurred, saying oversight should be comparable in intensity to a special inspection.
The ministry divided responsibilities between its headquarters and regional offices during the National Assembly’s regular session. Headquarters will pursue budget and legislative support, while local offices focus on enforcement and inspections at worksites. The ministry said it wants the public to see improvements in workplace safety.
Separately, local office chiefs presented priority initiatives aimed at reducing fatal workplace accidents through the end of the year.
