TodayKorea — Reporter Kim Si-on | Every year on April 28, South Korea observes Industrial Accident Workers’ Day. The country established the statutory commemorative day to raise public awareness about workplace accidents and to strengthen protections for injured workers, and it has been officially observed since 2025.
An October 2024 amendment to the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act created the observance. The law designates April 28 as Industrial Accident Workers’ Day and declares the following week Industrial Accident Workers’ Memorial Week, institutionalizing measures that go beyond remembrance to include prevention training, policy reform, and direct support for victims.
The choice of April 28 also aligns with an international precedent. After a 1993 fire at a toy factory in Thailand killed 188 people, workplace safety rose to the top of the global agenda.
In response, the International Labour Organization (ILO) designated the day in 1996 as the International Day of Remembrance for Workers Killed on the Job, and South Korea’s national observance follows that international movement.
This year’s ceremony combined tributes to workers who died during the country’s industrialization with renewed commitments to creating safer workplaces.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor began the day by visiting the memorial tower for industrial accident victims at Boramae Park in Seoul, then held a ceremony at the Korea Federation of SMEs attended by representatives of labor, business, and government.
Victims and bereaved family members also participated, providing a space to honor the human cost behind industrial progress.
The ceremony recognized individuals who advanced awareness of industrial accidents and defended workers’ rights.
Seok Chang-woo, president of the Korea Association of Disabled Artists, received the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit. The committee commended him for reshaping public perceptions of injured workers after he lost both arms in an electrocution accident and continued his career as an artist.
Min Dong-sik, president of the Incheon Industrial Accident Victims Association, received an industrial service award in recognition of his sustained efforts to support rehabilitation and prevention following his own accident.
President Lee Jae-myung said, “We mourn all workers who did not return from their workplaces. We will deploy every available means to ensure that workplaces are no longer sites of death.”
He added, “Given that we rank first among OECD countries for workplace fatality rates, economic achievement can never be a source of pride,” stressing the need for sustainable growth grounded in safety.
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