Construction and manufacturing account for 81 percent of deaths since 2022
In just four years, 369 foreign workers died in workplace accidents in Korea, government data showed Wednesday, prompting a ruling party lawmaker to call for stronger safeguards at high-risk workplaces.
The figures, covering 2022 through the first quarter of 2026, were compiled from workers’ compensation cases approved by the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service. The Ministry of Employment and Labor then submitted the findings to Rep. Shin Jeong-hoon of the Democratic Party of Korea.
Annual deaths stood at 85 in both 2022 and 2023 before peaking at 102 in 2024. The toll fell to 77 last year, with another 20 deaths recorded in the first quarter of 2026.
More than half of their deaths, or 194, occurred in construction. Another 105 were recorded in manufacturing, bringing the two industries’ combined share to 81 percent.
Falls were the leading cause, killing 140 workers, followed by accidents in which workers were caught in or between objects, with 56 deaths. Other major causes included workers being crushed, struck by objects, fires, collisions and collapses.
The government outlined an “integrated support road map for foreign workers” on April 30 and said it would release a final version in June. The Employment and Labor Ministry confirmed, however, that the plan remains under discussion among government ministries.
“The integrated support road map should not be delayed any further, as matters of life and safety cannot be put off because of differences between government ministries,” Shin said.
“In particular, the construction and manufacturing industries, which account for 81 percent of workplace accident deaths among foreign workers, require stronger safety measures,” he added.
Shin also called for swift amendments to the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers.
His proposals include native-language safety education, job-specific practical training, sufficient orientation and skills-training periods, and safety managers capable of providing interpretation at high-risk workplaces.
shwang9@heraldcorp.com
