World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
South Korea workplace deaths fall to a record low through September
South Korea recorded 366 work-related deaths from January to September, down from 457 in the same period last year.
The total was the lowest for the first nine months since records began in 2022, and deaths fell at both small and large workplaces.
Construction deaths fell by 60, to 150, while deaths in manufacturing rose by 13, to 132.
The increase in manufacturing followed fatal fires and explosions at a Daejeon company and Hanwha Aerospace.
Falls, collisions and workers being caught in machinery still caused more than half of all workplace deaths.
The government says it will maintain inspections at high-risk workplaces, with focused fire and explosion checks planned for November and more support for smaller businesses.
South Korea recorded 366 work-related accident deaths in the first nine months of 2026, down 91, or 19.9%, from the same period a year earlier.
The figure was the lowest for the January-to-September period since the statistics began in 2022.
Deaths fell in construction and across businesses of different sizes, while manufacturing deaths rose by 13 to 132.
The labor ministry attributed the construction decline partly to prevention and oversight, while some observers pointed to the construction downturn.
The government plans to maintain inspections of high-risk workplaces and increase support for smaller businesses.
- Who
- 366 workers died in work-related accidents in South Korea during the first nine months of 2026.
- What
- The death toll fell 19.9% from a year earlier, reaching a record low for the period.
- When
- January to September 2026; the figures were announced on October 20.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The ministry cited prevention and safety efforts as contributing to the decline; it said manufacturing deaths rose following major fires and explosions.
Some observers pointing to construction downturn
Labor Ministry
Cause of decline in construction deaths
Some observers pointing to construction downturn
The construction downturn may have reduced the number of active worksites.
Labor Ministry
Prevention, oversight and workplace safety efforts had an effect beyond changes in economic activity.
A fire at Daejeon Safety Industrial killed 14 company employees.
An explosion at Hanwha Aerospace killed five people.
South Korea recorded 366 work-related accident deaths, down from 457 in the same period of 2025.
The Labor Ministry announced the first-nine-month figures.
The government planned focused inspections of fire and explosion risks.
- Total deaths
- 366, compared with 457 in January–September 2025
- Year-on-year change
- Down 91 deaths, or 19.9%
- Construction deaths
- 150, down 60 from the year-earlier period
- Manufacturing deaths
- 132, up 13 from the year-earlier period
- Deaths at businesses with fewer than five employees
- 103, down from 137
- Foreign workers among deaths
- 48, or 13.1% of the total
What people are saying
The claim that a downturn in any industry reduces work-related deaths is not consistent.
The decline in construction deaths had a policy effect that went beyond economic fluctuations.
The scale of the decline in deaths is still insufficient, but achieving meaningful results was thanks to all parties—labor, management and government—joining forces.